National Conference chief Farooq Abdullah on Sunday rubbished reports suggesting that his party would form the government in Jammu and Kashmir in alliance with the BJP and said the PDP which has the mandate of the people must form the government at the earliest or dissolve the assembly so that fresh election is conducted in the border state.
Abdullah, however, said that his party’s Working Committee would take a final call over government formation.
“I have never said that we are aligning with the BJP. I said PDP and BJP must form the alliance as they have the mandate. Our working committee would consider this. We do not have mandate of the people,” Abdullah told the media here.
“Delay is a bad thing for the state because this is a border state and going through a very difficult phase. They have the mandate. They must sit down and solve the problems of the people. If they can’t solve the problems of the people they must dissolve the assembly and have a new election,” he added.
The former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister had earlier said the National Conference is ready to consider a tie-up with the BJP for government formation if such an offer is received.
“If such a proposal comes, then NC will call a Working Committee (meeting) and debate over it. If such a situation arises, NC can think over it as we have not closed the doors. Our doors are open,” he said.
Meanwhile, PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti is expected to discuss the future course of action and ties with ally BJP over government formation today.
This is the first time that the PDP is meeting to discuss government formation ever since the death of then chief minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed on January 7.
Jammu and Kashmir has been under President’s rule since January 9 as neither PDP nor their ally in power BJP has staked claimed for forming the state government.
The meeting has been called against the backdrop of reports that Mehbooba is unhappy over several issues put forth by the BJP.
The PDP has 27 MLAs while BJP has 25 legislators in the 87-member Jammu and Kashmir Assembly.
The BJP had earlier said that the PDP has to make the first move by electing its legislature party leader before they can extend their support for government formation in the state.
