A day after Jammu and Kashmir Governor NN Vohra stepped in to end the prevailing deadlock over government formation in Jammu and Kashmir since the demise of former chief minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed on January 7, PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti on Tuesday indicated that she is in no hurry to form government in the state.
After meeting Governor NN Vohra in Jammu, Mehbooba dismissed reports of differences with the BJP but said that situation demands some confidence building measures to be taken.
Before meeting with the governor Mehbooba met BJP leader Nirmal Singh at the state guest house in Jammu.
“Respecting people’s mandate, our party had done an alliance with the BJP in the larger interest of the state. This ran for 10 months. Today, when Mufti sahab is not amidst us, there is a huge responsibility on us. There is a need to create an environment to infuse confidence in Kashmiris. We have to bring those confidence measures,” Mehbooba said.
The PDP was part of a coalition government with the BJP in Jammu and Kashmir until Sayeed’s death. Mufti, who is Sayeed’s daughter, said, “I did not join hands with [Prime Minister Narendra] Modi. I joined hands with the people who joined hands with Modi. I don’t have that vision which Mufti saheb had, [and] neither do I have the experience.”
“It’s not about the BJP and PDP…. we need measures to give the new government a fillip,” Ms Mufti said, adding that she feared she did not enjoy the goodwill that her father did to be able to get people to accept unpopular decisions.
The BJP has asserted that it has in the 10 months of partnership with the PDP honoured the “agenda of alliance” that they agreed upon to form government in the state.
Party sources have said that the BJP wants to continue to support the PDP in Jammu and Kashmir. “The PDP has to decide, it has the Chief Minister’s post,” a BJP leader said.
Repeatedly asked about what she wants from the Centre, Mehbooba said there was a need for CBMs.
