Suspense over govt formation in JK continues

Contours of government formation in Jammu and Kashmir appeared hazy today with BJP and PDP trying hard to hammer out a workable arrangement with various stakeholders.
Speculation continued over PDP, with 28 members in the 87-member Assembly, either tying up with BJP having 25 members or aligning with Congress(12 MLAs) with outside support of 15-member National Conference.
PDP sources said the party was not ready for rotational Chief Ministership with BJP.
Another PDP leader said with the support of Congress and some Independents, the party will be in a position to reach the halfway mark of 44.
In Jammu, Congress spokesman Salman Nizami said the party was in touch with PDP and six other Independents to prevent BJP from coming to power in the state.

For the record, BJP General Secretary Ram Madhav said his party was holding consultations with all important stakeholders in Jammu and Kashmir for providing a stable government.

The BJP leader, who has held a series of meetings with leaders of Valley-based political parties including PDP's Muzaffar Hussain Baig, said the Prime Minister had a grand vision for development of the state.
"To realise this dream, we have to provide a government that will put the state on development track," Madhav, who flew back to Delhi, said.
"We are meeting with all important stakeholders and our aim is to provide a stable and credible government," he told reporters here.

On his talks with PDP since his arrival here yesterday, Madhav said the talks were still at initial stages.
"PDP is an important stakeholder and has got a major mandate. Mufti (Mohammad Sayeed) has a five-decade long political career and is respected not only in the state but across the country.
"National Conference also has got substantial number of seats. It was part of the NDA during (Atal Bihari) Vajpayee's tenure (as Prime Minister)," he noted.
Madhav, however, skirted a question on which of the two parties would BJP prefer to ally with, saying it was not about the party but a choice of providing a stable and credible government.