BJP, PDP to start "structured dialogue" soon on CMP in J-K

With BJP and PDP "narrowing" their difference on contentious issues, the two parties will soon start a "structured dialogue" to hammer out a Common Minimum Programme (CMP) towards formation of a coalition government in Jammu and Kashmir.
Chief Spokesman of PDP Naeem Akhtar told PTI over phone today that a team of both the parties will soon meet to firm up the CMP which will lay down the framework for governance in the state.
With efforts afoot to have a Government in place in the state before Parliament Session beginning February 23, BJP General Secretary Ram Madhav had a series of meetings with state BJP leaders including state unit President Jugal Kishore and party in-charge of the state Avinash Rai.

Some of the state leaders held a meeting with BJP President Amit Shah today, a move which is being seen as a run up to announcement of BJP's team for the structured dialogue with PDP. BJP has 25 MLAs after results for the state Assembly were declared on December 23.
PDP, which has 28 MLAs, has already named a team of six leaders including two MPs Muzzafar Hussain Baig and Tariq Hameed Qarra besides Akhtar, MLAs Haseeb Drabu and Altaf Bukhari and Vikramaditya Singh.
BJP has in-principle agreed for a six-year term for PDP patron Mufti Mohammed Sayeed while the party will hold the post of Deputy Chief Minister which is expected to be given to state BJP leader Nirmal Singh.

Akhtar said there has been "significant progress" towards formation of the Government, adding, "I expect the structured dialogue to begin soon".

Asked how soon the talks can begin, he said "it can be tomorrow, day after or next week. I cannot tell you when it will happen. All I can say is that this is happening soon".
To a query whether all the contentious issues between the two parties had been sorted out, the PDP Chief Spokesman said "I can say that the areas of differences are narrowing down".
BJP leaders, who have been involved in back channel talks with the PDP, said government formation was taking time as the two parties, with different ideologies, were coming together for the first time.

"So it will take sometime to come on a common platform, especially on contentious issues," the BJP leader said.
The two parties are holding discussions on ironing out differences on issues like Article 370(special status to J and K), controversial Armed Forces Special Powers Act, adoption of soft-stand vis-a-vis separatists, granting of special status to the state and West Pakistan Refugees.