'Legislatures want BJP CM in state'

BJP state president Jugal Kishore Sharma on Tuesday said it was the wish of the all newly-elected party MLAs that next chief minister of J&K should be from the BJP.

BJP state president Jugal Kishore Sharma on Tuesday said it was the wish of the all newly-elected party MLAs that next chief minister of J&K should be from the BJP.

He said: "The state BJP unit has left the issue to the central leadership and party president Amit Shah will take a final call on the matter."

The remarks came a day the PDP came out with the idea of a "grand alliance" with its arch rival National Conference (NC) and Congress to form the government. He said: "Any such "grand alliance" will be against the wishes of people of the state. I think that the so called "grand alliance" will not last long. It is only the BJP that can give stable government to J&K."

When asked whether there is any possibility that governor's rule will be imposed, if no party is able to form government in the state, Jugal said: "I do not subscribe to the apprehension that government will not be formed in J&K, right now the deliberations are on. We still have time and the BJP will form government in the state in coming days."

The meeting assumes great significance as it comes a day ahead of PDP president Mehbooba Mufti's meeting with governor over consultations regarding government formation in J&K.

It is also perceived that fearing that the PDP will submit a proposal of "grand alliance" to governor, BJP submitted its proposal in advance and met governor. The BJP leadership was scheduled to meet the governor Vohra on January 1.

Jugal said: "I am not privy to what transpired in the meeting of Ram Madhav with the governor. "On January 1, I along with the party colleagues will meet the governor with BJP proposal on government formation," he said.

On being asked whether there is any possibility that BJP will form government in alliance with PDP, Jugal said: "I do not deny that it may be possible. BJP has kept all options open."