NC, PDP blame each other for Governor's Rule in J-K

The National Conference and rival Peoples Democratic Party were on Friday locked in a blame game over Jammu and Kashmir being brought under Governor’s rule following the prolonged stalemate over formation of a government in the state.

The Bharatiya Janata Party on its part said the turn of events was an “evolving” situation and that the party was in talks with both PDP and NC for forming a government.

NC leader and former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah while blaming PDP for the development accused its patron Mufti Mohammed Sayeed of continuing the deadlock in a bid to get a full six-year term as chief minister.

“It’s been months since the state had a full fledged administration and the people can’t wait for Mufti Sayeed to negotiate his six-year term,” Omar tweeted shortly after the state was put under Governor’s rule.

Omar, the NC’s Working President, said restoration and rehabilitation in the aftermath of the floods in the state was suffering as accountable administration was absent besides a humanitarian problem on the border.

“Yet the @jkpdp would like the limbo to continue as people suffer only so the Mufti can force a six year term as CM from the BJP,” he said.

Omar had asked the governor to relieve him as a caretaker chief minister on Wednesday as he believed that a full-fledged administration was required to help the people of the state.

He termed as “amazing” PDP’s contention that NC’s offer of support to government formation was non-serious.

“For the @jkpdp to claim that my offer to them was a non-serious one is amazing. They know who the intermediary was so they should ask him,” Omar said. The NC had offered support to the PDP, which has 28 MLAs in the 87-member state assembly. Election results were announced on December 23.

“I’m sorry after an election with such a good turnout we have a situation of Governor’s rule but as I’ve maintained the onus lies with JKPDP,” he said.

While BJP and PDP have claimed that back channel talks were on, there is no clarity on the progress made in these parleys as both parties have maintained a wait-and-watch approach. The PDP blamed Omar for forcing Governor’s rule.

“We had time till January 19 to form a government but the situation has been forced (on the state) by Omar,” PDP chief spokesman Naeem Akhtar said. 

Akhtar said his PDP was in talks with various political parties for formation of a stable government.

“We could have forged an alliance ...We are in touch with different parties as informal channels are open with all parties,” he said.

The PDP spokesman said the party will continue its efforts for formation of a stable government in the state.

“We are hopeful that we will be able to form a stable government soon,” he added.

BJP President Amit Shah said talks are in progress with both the PDP and NC over government formation. BJP with 25 seats was in the second spot.

“Our talks are going on with the two parties in Kashmir. We will let you know once there is a development. We are trying to form a BJP government in the state,” Shah told reporters in Vijaywada.

Union Minister and senior BJP leader Ravi Shankar Prasad said the development is an “evolving situation”.