India
Updated : Dec 28, 2014, 07:31 AM IST
Amid hectic parleys for stitching the ruling coalition, People's Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti broke her silence on Saturday saying the political aspirations and economic interests of all the regions and sub-regions of Jammu and Kashmir would be represented and valued in the adequate measure before any decision is arrived at.
"I want to assure my party cadres and the people that whatever decision is to be taken will be taken in the larger interest of the State and its people. The mandate given by the people to the PDP to represent the political aspirations and economic interests of all the regions and sub-regions of Jammu and Kashmir would be represented and valued in adequate measure", she said.
Mehbooba said PDP will take people of the state on board before arriving on any decision regarding the future course of action.
"In the prevailing hazy political scenario, unqualified comments in the media only add to the confusion and fuel wild speculations. As a responsible political party PDP will take not only its cadres but the people of the State on board before arriving on any decision regarding the future course of action", she said.
Mehbooba's broke her silence for the first time after her thanks giving press conference on the counting day. Officially PDP is keeping cards close to its chest, yet some of the senior leaders have openly supported the coalition government with BJP to maintain a regional balance given the fractured mandate where the saffron party has won all its 25 seats from Jammu and PDP has won 25 of 28 from Kashmir.
Sources said a section of PDP leaders want the direct negotiations at the highest level between Mufti and Prime Minister Modi to seal the deal on the alliance. Sources said some leaders however believe that the alliance with BJP is fraught with risks and could erode the party support base, some of which comprises the separatist constituency in the Kashmir valley.
Sources said the PDP patron Mufti Mohammad Sayeed will have the final say whether to ally with the BJP. Sources said PDP leaders are also not ready to compromise on the chief minister's post saying the party with the highest number should head the government.
BJP too seemed to have softened its stand on the issue of chief minister with party saying the decision would be taken after the final structure and form of the government takes shape.
"BJP legislators have met in Jammu and authorised the centre party leaders to take final decision on the alliances and leaders. We have not taken any decision on that (CM issue). Once we finalise the structure and form of the government then we will take the decision", said a senior BJP leader.
On the other side, CPIM state secretary Mohammad Yousuf Tarigami, who won from Kulgam constituency claimed that he along with two other independent MLAs are ready to support non-BJP secular government in Jammu and Kashmir.