No objection to Mehbooba becoming CM, hints BJP

BJP general secretary Ram Madhav on Monday hinted that the party has no objection to PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti becoming chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir.

"We are broadly in favour of continuing with the arrangement reached between the two parties eight month ago," Ram Madhav told media persons here.

"It's up to the PDP to initiate the process of formation of a new government in the state," he added.

Mehbooba Mufti's father Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, who had led a PDP-BJP coalition government in the state, died on January 7 in New Delhi's AIIMS hospital.

Governor's Rule was imposed in the state on Saturday after Mehbooba Mufti refused to take oath before the traditional four-day mourning period ended.

Ram Madhav, who has been the main interlocutor between the BJP and the PDP, also hoped that the PDP leadership would soon take a call after discussions within their party.

"We hope that a decision is taken soon by the PDP on government formation," he said.

The BJP, which was a junior partner in the Sayeed government, had earlier pitched for a 50:50 formula for the remaining chief ministerial term.