Jammu and Kashmir govt formation: Formal talks with PDP yet to begin, says BJP

New Delhi: After indications about PDP and BJP coming together for an early formation of government in Jammu and Kashmir, BJP on Friday said formal discussions with PDP were yet to begin and hoped that it would start soon. [caption id=“attachment_2072699” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] Representational image. AFP[/caption] “Seeing so much being written about government formation in Jammu and Kashmir. For (the) record, please note (that) formal discussions (are) yet to begin. Hope to start them soon,” BJP general secretary Ram Madhav said on Twitter.

Seeing so much being written abt govt formation in JnK. For record pls note formal discussions yet to begin. Hope to start dem soon.

— Ram Madhav (@rammadhav_) January 30, 2015

Madhav’s remarks came on a day when Jammu and Kashmir Governor NN Vohra met Home Minister Rajnath Singh over flood relief package for the state. Leaders of PDP and BJP had in Jammu given hints that they could soon announce the formation of a coalition government in the state, after senior leaders of the parties held a meeting there on Thursday. On government formation efforts, PDP spokesman Nayeem Akhtar had said, “I think we might not have to wait for long.” “I think the structured dialogue is not very far now. We look forward to it,” Akhtar had said. In the polls to the 87-member Assembly, whose results were out on 23 December, PDP emerged as the single-largest party with 28 seats while BJP came second with 25 seats. The state is currently under Governor’s Rule. BJP leader and Union Minister Jitendra Singh had also said the “party leadership is discussing all the issues and the time will tell…” He said BJP strongly believes in democratic process and “we don’t rush into things. Let the process take its time.” Asked to comment on delay in the formation of government in the state, he said, “The leaders of the party at an appropriate level are discussing and debating the issue. The leaders who have been given the responsibility are qualified to speak on the issue.” BJP state president Jugal Kishore Sharma said, “Right now, we can just say that the government formation in the state will take place for sure and we are in the process of giving the people of the state a strong and stable government.” Meanwhile, Madhav said in another tweet that he was also “preoccupied with alliance partner NPF’s internal squabbling leading to instability in Nagaland”, the only northeastern state where BJP shares power. PTI