Vohra asks PDP, BJP to come 'urgently' with government formation proposal

Jammu and Kashmir Governor N.N. Vohra on Friday evening faxed letters to PDP and BJP to "urgently" intimate him about possibilities of government formation in the state, an official said.

"Besides being in touch with the leadership of the ruling coalition partners in the state, the governor has today faxed letters to PDP president, Mehbooba Mufti and BJP president Sat Pal Sharma to urgently inform him about their respective positions regarding new government formation in the state," said a Raj Bhawan spokesman here.

Vohra has finally cleared decks for imposition of governor's rule by sending the letters to the two parties those had formed a coalition government in the state in March last year.

Given the reluctance of Peoples Democratic Party president Mehbooba Mufti to take oath before four days' mourning of her deceased father, Mufti Muhammad Sayeed ends, it is unlikely that the state will have a new government before Sunday.

The Bharatiya Janata Party leadership of the state that met in Srinagar on Friday during which party general secretary Ram Madhav was present also remained tight-lipped about support to Mehbooba Mufti.

Insiders in the two parties have told IANS the two alliance parties are seeking fresh terms to have a better say in the new government.

"One thing is certain, after her father died, Mehbooba Mufti is in deep shock and any hint of the BJP trying to derive political mileage before committing support to her could jeopardize the entire arrangement between the two parties.

"As far as we know her, she would not negotiate a fresh deal with the BJP especially if such a proposal is put forth by the BJP after her father's death.

"She is a daughter deeply bereaved by her father's death. She would take no dictation and the arrangement will have to be what was worked out during Mufti Sahib's lifetime," said a close confidante and minister of in the Sayeed-led government.