Alliance with BJP on the basis of Common Minimum Programme, dialogue: PDP

Jammu: The PDP, which has emerged the single largest party in the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly, on Tuesday said any alliance with BJP has to be on the basis of Common Minimum Programme (CMP) and a structured dialogue. [caption id=“attachment_2033003” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti. AFP[/caption] “Structured dialogue has not yet started. We are looking forward,” PDP chief spokesperson Nayeem Akhtar told PTI. “If the alliance has to be struck, it has to be (on the basis of) structured dialogue and CMP,” he added. Asked when the structured dialogue would start with BJP, he said “We will not put a time-line on that. Obviously that will have to be done”. Queried about the issues confronting the two parties, including rotational Chief Ministership, Akhtar said “issues will be discussed in a structured dialogue”. BJP, whose top brass held consultations with its party leaders from the state on Monday in Delhi, had said that PDP has shown some “initiative” in joining hands with it and hinted that certain controversial issues could be set aside. “There has been an initiative from PDP’s side. To take this forward, we discussed to hold further discussions on the issues (with PDP). At the moment, there is some forward movement on the issue,” BJP General Secretary Ram Madhav told reporters after the meeting on Monday. Hopes are now being pinned on PDP patron Mufti Sayeed’s visit to Jammu towards the weekend when he may possibly meet BJP leaders to take the process forward. In the election results declared on December 23 last, PDP emerged as the single largest party winning 28 seats - 25 in Kashmir and three in Jammu region. The BJP came a close second, bagging 25 seats - all in Jammu. The state Assembly has 87 seats. Sources in PDP said Sayeed is likely to travel to Jammu at the end of this week to “take the talks for government formation to the next level but nothing has been finalized so far.” They said Sayeed has been staying in the valley all this while due to some personal pre-occupation. BJP has indicated that a committee of some senior leaders is likely to constituted to hold further talks with the PDP leadership and work out a common programme for good governance. It appears to be pulling out all stops to form its first government in the only Muslim-majority state of the country. National Conference bagged 15 seats while Congress won 12 seats with smaller parties and independents winning on seven seats. Governor NN Vohra has set a deadline of 19 January for formation of the government. PTI