Mudassir Kuloo
Srinagar, Aug 11: Uncertainty continues to prevail over government formation, with the politicians and political parties unable to predict the future with any degree of surety.
The BJP has been trying to form the government with the help of rebel PDP legislators.
However, the Kashmiri leaders are reluctant to provide support to the party before any verdict on Article 35 A.
“No one will form the government before there is any verdict. If there is any tampering with the legislation, there will be no role of mainstream politics,” said MLA Baramulla, Javaid Beigh, who is one among the PDP’s seven disgruntled legislators.
“We raised voice as there were a few leaders who let Mehbooba Mufti down. The MLAs have been chosen for six-years. I don’t think there will be any government formation in the near future.” About BJP General Secretary Ram Madhav’s meeting with Peoples Conference Chief, Sajjad Lone, he said, “Sajjad Lone had a pre-poll alliance with the BJP. We have nothing to do with that.”
The BJP has been holding talks with other parties to acquire 44 seats, which is the requisite number to form the government in the state. Another disgruntled PDP MLA, Abdul Majeed Paddar said the government was likely to be formed after Amarnath Yatra ends.
“Government could be formed with the like-minded people. They could be from any party,” Paddar said. Another disgruntled PDP leader said that they were waiting for the verdict.
“If there is any tampering with the legislation, no legislator will support the BJP in government formation,” he said, wishing not to be named. In 87-member J&K Assembly, PDP is the single largest party with 28 seats, followed by BJP with 25, National Conference with 15, Congress with 12, and Peoples Conference with 2 seats.
The BJP leaders, according to the party insiders, have been in touch with the dissenting PDP MLAs for forming the government.
“For forming the government, at least 18 MLAs have to dissent the PDP, which is two-third of the party’s total seat count in the house,” a BJP leader said.
“If we manage to get the support of 18 PDP MLAs, there will be BJP led government in the state.”
The saffron party is short of 15 members for forming government in the state. The state has been under the Governor’s rule since June 20, a day after BJP withdrew support to Mehbooba-led coalition.
