No new conditions from PDP accepted: BJP

The Bharatiya Janata Party on Wednesday asserted that it has not accepted any new conditions from the Peoples Democratic Party and threw the ball in Mehbooba Mufti’s court, saying her party has to make the next move for government formation in Jammu and Kashmir.

BJP General Secretary Ram Madhav’s assertion came a day after Mehbooba’s meeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi which she had termed as “very positive and good”, prompting speculation that their talks over government formation was back on track following months of impasse.

“We have not accepted any new condition from the PDP,” said Madhav, the party’s pointsman in the state. 

The talks between Modi and Mehbooba were cordial during which specific issues were not discussed, he said, adding that she also did not put up any condition during the meeting.

The alliance between two parties had run into rough weather following the death of Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed as his daughter Mehbooba is believed to have sought assurances from the centre on certain political and economic issues close to her party’s agenda.

When it appeared that talks for government formation had fallen through after her unsuccessful meeting with BJP chief Amit Shah, her positive comments following the meeting with Modi were seen as a breakthrough.

Asked about prospects of government formation, Madhav said PDP has to make the next move as he noted that its legislature party is meeting on Thursday.

BJP sources said Mehbooba has been told to discuss the nitty-gritty of the alliance with the saffron party leadership.

Mehbooba had announced on Tuesday that she would decide on the next course of action after the meeting.

Image: Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his meet with Mehbooba Mufti on Tuesday. Photograph: PTI