Talks on for coalition government in Jammu and Kashmir, says Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad

Senior Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad on Wednesday said that talks are on for a government formation in Jammu and Kashmir. “We (NC, Congress, PDP) thought why not to unite and form a government together. Talks are going on but as of now it is only a suggestion…We haven’t reached that stage yet where we can form the government,” he said according to the news agency ANI.

Hum parties ka yeh kehna tha ki kyu na hum ikatthe ho jaye aur sarkar banaye. Abhi vo stage sarkar banne wali nahi hai,ek sujhaav ke taur par baatcheet abhi chal rahi hai: Ghulam Nabi Azad, Congress on potential Congress-PDP-NC alliance pic.twitter.com/QqahukNrXp

— ANI (@ANI) November 21, 2018

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According to a report in the NDTV, the Congress leadership has approved a tie-up with Mehbooba Mufti’s Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Omar Abdullah’s National Conference with outside support.

The report, quoting a source added that the talks between the three parties are at an advanced stage to stymie attempts by the BJP to form a new government and engineer defections in the PDP and Congress.

The PDP has 28 legislators, Congress has 12 and the National Conference has 15 in the 87-member Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly. The mark needed to form the government is 44. 

Jammu and Kashmir at present is under Governor’s Rule which will end on December 19. A President’s Rule may be imposed thereafter in the state if no government is formed by then.

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On Tuesday, Muzaffar Hussain Baig, senior PDP leader and former Member of Parliament, said he would leave the party if the third front emerges, which is also what the Peoples Conference-led by Sajad Lone is aiming at in the state. Baig targeted the PDP and the National Conference leaderships for its decision to boycott the local body elections. According to Baig, the PDP has failed to live up to its vision.

On reports of the PDP and National Conference joining hands, Mr Baig said, "It will be an alliance of one religion. Jammu would not like it, Ladakh will not remain part of the state. This will lead to trifurcation of the state."

In June, Bharatiya Janata Party pulled out of the PDP-led coalition government in the state, saying it has become impossible to continue in the government in view of the growing terrorism in the state.