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PM Modi to take call on BJP-PDP alliance in Jammu and Kashmir
Reports claim the BJP has already given in to the PDP's claim to chief minister's post for the full six-year term.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely to have the last word in the ongoing negotiations between his Bharatiya Janata Party and the People's Democratic Party on the two parties allying to form a coalition government in Jammu and Kashmir.
While intense discussions are on between the PDP and the BJP in New Delhi, a structured dialogue can take place only if the alliance agenda is cleared by the Prime Minister.
Sources say the PDP had forwarded the draft of alliance agenda to the Prime Minister's Office about a month ago.
"The BJP, it seems is, waiting for a nod from the Prime Minister before going ahead with the common minimum programme," said a PDP leader on the condition of anonymity.
On the other hand, PDP patron Mufti Muhammad Sayeed is unlikely to compromise on the basic agenda of the alliance. The local media quoted him as saying "The BJP can go with National Conference as the PDP won't budge an inch".
Party sources say around 15 rounds of informal talks have already been held between the two parties which now have entered a decisive phase as both are trying to work out a compromise formula.
Senior PDP leader and former J&K Bank chairperson Haseeb Drabu is leading the talks for his party.
Reports claim the BJP has already given in to the PDP's claim to chief minister's post for the full six-year term. PDP patron Sayeed will take over as the CM when the new government is formed.
However, contentious issues like Article 370, Armed Forces Special Powers Act (Afspa), the settlement of west Pakistan refugees in the state and transfer of some power projects to J-K are going to be the sticking points. The PDP is also seeking assurances on starting the dialogue with separatist Hurriyat leaders.
The two parties have held diagonally opposed views on all the issues and have fought elections on their respective stances.
The PDP wants protection of Article 370, which grants special status to Jammu and Kashmir, but the BJP has always maintained that it is a temporary provision of the Indian Constitution and has to go. During the assembly elections, the BJP had maintained that the constitutional provision is keeping the state backward.
Meanwhile, reports from New Delhi suggest that the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh has rejected the alliance agenda, although the BJP has maintained that its ideological mentor has nothing to do with the CMP.
The border state has been without an elected government for almost two months after December 23 result threw up a hung House, with none of the four main players crossing the majority mark of 44 in the 87-member assembly.
Governor's rule was imposed in the state on January 9 after parties failed to cobble the numbers for a government.
The PDP has 28 MLAs, BJP 25, National Conference 15 and the Congress 12.
