Congress rules out coalition with PDP in J-K
NEW DELHI : Congress on Monday ruled out any possibility of forming a coalition government with the PDP in Jammu & Kashmir amid reports that former chief minister of the state Mehbooba Mufti had been camping here seeking a meeting with UPA chairperson Sonia Gand…
The AICC’s Policy Planning Group on Jammu and Kashmir, chaired by former prime minister Manmohan Singh, had a two-hour meeting here and resolved that the Congress should focus on strengthening the organisation in all the three regions of
the state— Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh.
A meeting of 100 senior Congress leaders has been called in Srinagar on Tuesday to discuss a future strategy. Speculation had been rife that the Congress was exploring the possibility of forming government in the state— where the BJP pulled out the coalition government led by Mehbooba Mufti last month— with the PDP, Independent legislators and the CPI(M) as the coalition members.
“There is no question of any coalition. Our demand has been fresh elections after the situation stabilises in J&K,” Ghulam Ahmed Mir, President of the Jammu and Kashmir Congress told DH after the meeting at Manmohan Singh’s residence— 3, Motilal Nehru Marg.
The policy planning group comprises senior leaders Karan Singh, P Chidambaram, Ghulam Nabi Azad, Ambika Soni, Rigzin Zora, Tariq Hameed Karra, Shyam Lal Sharma and Mir. Mir said the party has decided to focus on strengthening its organisational ca…
Mir said the party has decided to focus on strengthening its organisational capabilities in all the three regions of the state and earn the goodwill of the people before the Assembly elections.
Mir said the Congress had played its role in 2014 when it offered to form government along with the National Conference and the PDP after the Assembly elections threw up a hung verdict.
“But the situation has changed now. The BJP-PDP government had vitiated the atmosphere in the state. It is now for the governor to take a Constitutional decision,” he said.
Meanwhile , The Congress on Monday sought to scotch speculation that the party was exploring the possibilities of forming a government in Jammu and Kashmir with Mehbooba Mufti’s Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Emerging from a meeting of key Congress leaders on the Kashmir situation here, former Union Minister Ambika Soni said the party wanted fresh polls in the State that has been placed under Governor’s rule after the BJP withdrew support to the PDP.
Meanwhile , The Congress on Monday sought to scotch speculation that the party was exploring the possibilities of forming a government in Jammu and Kashmir with Mehbooba Mufti’s Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Emerging from a meeting of key Congress leaders on the Kashmir situation here, former Union Minister Ambika Soni said the party wanted fresh polls in the State that has been placed under Governor’s rule after the BJP withdrew support to the PDP.
Announcing that the meeting was held to “discuss the situation arising out of the imposition of Governor’s rule in the State,” Ms. Soni said there was no possibility of an alliance with the PDP, which had failed to fulfil its promises to the people of the State.
Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, former Finance Minister P. Chidambaram, Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad,and Jammu and Kashmir Congress Committee president Ghulam Ahmad Mir were present in the meeting.
A Congress delegation will also be visiting Leh, Ladakh and Kargil soon to assess the situation. On Tuesday, about 100 party members will meet in Srinagar for the same purpose.
Later, speaking to journalists, Congress leader Abhishek Manu Singhvi said in reply to a question whether the party was looking to form a government in the State: “We are not as foolish as you [the BJP] think.
Our demand is that elections should happen there immediately. First, you destroyed the administration of that State, made an unethical alliance, and today you want to rule there through Governor’s rule. Three years are left there; why don’t you announce elections? Order polls if you have the courage.”“Look at their policies in such a sensitive State and they also thump their chests on nationalism,” he added. Asked about the implications of Ms. Mufti reportedly meeting former Congress chief Sonia Gandhi, Mr.
Singhvi said: “Meeting with somebody has not to be read in terms of all other kinds of conclusions you are drawing. I have made it clear. I don’t think we should jump to conclusions.”However, the Congress media cell denied knowledge of any such meeting.( With Agency Inputs ).
