Jammu

PDP and BJP today gave hints that they could soon announce the formation of a coalition government in Jammu and Kashmir as senior leaders of the two parties held a meeting here.

“Now, I think we might not have to wait for long,” PDP spokesman Nayeem Akhtar said here when asked about the update on government formation efforts.

“I think the structured dialogue is not very far now. We look forward to it,” he added.

In the polls to the 87-member Assembly, whose results came on December 23 last, PDP emerged as the single-largest party with 28 seats while BJP came second with 25 seats. The state is currently under Governor’s Rule.

When asked by when the state can have a popular government, BJP leader and Union Minister Jitendra Singh told reporters, “party leadership is discussing all the issues and the time will tell.”

He said BJP strongly believes in democratic process and “we don’t rush into things. Let the process take its time.”

When asked to comment on delay in the formation of the government in the state, he said, “The leaders of the party at an appropriate level are discussing and debating the issue.

The leaders who have been given the responsibility are qualified to speak on the issue.”

He was speaking after a two-hour-long meeting of senior leaders of the two parties here.

“We met here today to discuss on several organizational issues, there was no discussion over the issue of government formation here. We discussed about the upcoming Rajya Sabha elections (on February 7) and how to win our two seats,” Singh said.

BJP state president and MP Jugal Kishore Sharma said, “right now we can just say that the government formation in the state will take place for sure and we are in the process of giving the people of the state a strong and stable government.”

Regarding today?s meeting, he said the meeting was held to strengthen the state unit of the party and to ensure that the two candidates of the party win the Rajya Sabha elections.

Asked to comment if the BJP has entered into an agreement with PDP for the upcoming elections for the upper House of Parliament, Sharma said, “We are contesting on two seats and we cannot win these two seats without the support of the other party.”

To a question about Ghulam Nabi Azad being the joint candidate of Congress and National Conference, the BJP leader said, “These are the people who wanted to form a grand alliance to form the government, but failed.”

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