Meeting nine days after Jammu and Kashmir was brought under Governor's rule, the Peoples Democratic Party's core group met on Sunday and indicated it was veering to the idea of forming a coalition government with Bharatiya Janata Party, but its president Mehbooba Mufti told the meeting she was in no hurry to take over as chief minister.
The meeting also authorised Mehbooba to take a final call on government formation. "The core group has authorised party president Mehbooba to take whatever decision on it (government formation)," PDP leader Naeem Akhtar said after the marathon 5-hour meeting of the party's core group.
Akhtar said the PDP has not set any conditions for government formation with the BJP, but refused to set any deadline for it, too. "No conditions on part of the PDP," he said. Asked how soon will the government be formed, he said "no timeline". "The most important point in the vision of Mufti Sahib was reconciliation between India and Pakistan," he said. Akhtar, a trusted aide of the late chief minister, said the party welcomed the Prime Minister's Lahore visit in December 2015 and the maturity shown by the Centre in the wake of the Pathankot attack.
"It was his (Sayeed's) belief that India-Pakistan friendship is necessary for Kashmir as it has been a victim of hostilities between the two countries," he said. A senior leader, who was present in the meeting, however, said Mehbooba told the party leaders she was in no hurry and would take over as chief minister only after she is convinced that she can translate into reality her father's vision for the state.
Beside this former Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir, Omar Abdulla has suggested that it would be better to go for fresh elections if the PDP cannot decide on its alliance with the BJP.
