Will consider NC's offer of support for govt formation in Kashmir: PDP

Srinagar: People’s Democratic Party (PDP) on Tuesday said it will consider National Conference’s (NC) offer of support for government formation in Jammu and Kashmir at an appropriate party forum as peace in the state was its priority rather than just coming to power. [caption id=“attachment_2044683” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti. AFP[/caption] “Our agenda is not just to come to power but use it as a means to bring peace and stability in Jammu and Kashmir,” PDP chief spokesman Naeem Akhtar told PTI. He said if cobbling up a government would have been the sole aim of the PDP, it would have staked its claim by now. “Now, the NC has sent a letter to the Governor offering support to us and we would have staked claim by now, had we just been interested in coming to power,” he said. Akhtar said the PDP will discuss the latest developments in the state, including NC’s offer of support, at an “appropriate party forum”. National Conference working president Omar Abdullah on Tuesday wrote a letter to Governor NN Vohra informing him about his party’s offer of support to the PDP for forming the government in the state. Omar also urged the Governor to consult his party leadership before taking any final decision regarding the future of the present Assembly and its viability in the formation of a government. Asked about talks with BJP on government formation, without elaborating, Akhtar said, “The structured dialogue has not started yet but back channel talks are in progress.” The Assembly polls, whose results were declared on December 23 last, threw up a fractured mandate. PDP emerged as the single largest party with 28 seats in the 87-member House. BJP bagged 25 seats, NC 15 and Congress 12. Abdullah resigned last week as caretaker chief minister. PDP and BJP have been in talks but failed to reach any agreement even after three weeks since the results were announced following which Governor’s Rule was imposed in the state last week. PTI