PDP-Cong-NC to form govt in Jammu and Kashmir: PDP leader Altaf Bukhari

At a time when a grand alliance of the opposition parties across the country is being suggested as the only way out to defeat BJP in 2019 elections, Jammu and Kashmir seems to be taking lead in uniting rival political parties to keep BJP at bay from the power corridor in the state.

After the Congress approved a “grand alliance” with the regional parties like PDP and National Conference (NC) to form the government in the state, senior People’s Democratic Party (PDP) leader and former finance minister Altaf Bukhari on Wednesday, November 21, went to meet NC leader Omar Abdullah to discuss the modalities about the proposed alliance.  According to credible sources, NC is willing to give outside support to the proposed Congress-PDP coalition government in J&K.

Meanwhile, after the meeting with Omar Abdullah, Altaf Bukhari confirmed the development. He said that all the three parties Congress, PDP and NC have agreed to form a government. He said that the three parties are one to save the special status of Jammu and Kashmir.

The state is currently under governor's rule which cannot be extended after it completes its six-month period on December 19. It is proposed to impose President's rule thereafter but the 87-member assembly is not being dissolved, according to Governor Satyapal Mallik.

A popular government headed by the Peoples Democratic Party's Mehbooba Mufti fell when its partner BJP pulled out of the ruling coalition on June 16.

Political circles have been agog with speculation that behind the scene efforts were underway to prop up a government headed by Sajjad Lone's People Conference, which has only two MLAs but which would be banking on the support from 25 BJP MLAs. However, this combination would fall short of the required majority of 44 which is sought to be made by splitting the PDP which has been rocked by dissidence.

The sources said that in order to checkmate such efforts to prop up another BJP-backed government, mainstream parties such as the Congress, PDP and the National Conference are in touch to form a government.

The plan envisages a coalition between PDP and Congress, which have been partners in a government between 2002 to 2007, backed from outside by the National Conference. The PDP has 28 MLAs, followed by NC with 15 and Congress with 12 which will make up for a clear majority.

The National Conference sources made it clear that they were not interested in joining a coalition government but would not be averse to giving outside support to a PDP-Congress coalition.

If such an arrangement comes about, Mehbooba Mufti is unlikely to be the chief minister but the government may be headed by a senior PDP leader.

Coming together of traditionally bitter rivals, the PDP and the NC, would mark a significant realignment of political forces in the state. The National Conference had offered its support to the PDP after the 2014 assembly polls but the latter ignored the offer and aligned with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

With inputs from Haroon Reshi