J&K government formation: NC supports PDP, writes to Governor

Srinagar: The logjammed political scene in Jammu and Kashmir witnessed a new twist on Tuesday with National Conference writing to Governor NN Vohra to inform about offer of support to PDP and insisting that it should be consulted before any decision on government formation is taken.

PDP responded guardedly, saying the party will take note of the latest development in an appropriate forum and respond after deliberations.

"@JKNC_has written to Governor Vohra Sahib reiterating our offer of support to @jkpdp and asking him to call us before deciding the assembly viability," National Conference's Working President Omar Abdullah tweeted.

In the letter, Abdullah said that National Conference has offered to support to PDP, which has emerged as the single largest party in the just-concluded Assembly elections, a party release said.

"However, the political impasse in the state, due to indecisiveness of the PDP has led to the imposition of the Governor's rule and placing of the State Assembly in suspended animation despite an overwhelming participation of the people of Jammu and Kashmir in the electoral process", it said.

Abdullah asked Vohra to consult the party leadership before taking any final decision regarding the future of the present assembly and its viability in the formation of the government, the party statement said.

The letter was delivered to Vohra by Provincial President Jammu Devender Singh Rana in Jammu this afternoon as a consequence of the NC Core Group meeting in Srinagar yesterday. When contacted for reaction, PDP Chief spokesman Naeem Akhtar said, "We will discuss this development in an appropriate party forum and respond after the deliberations,"

On the PDP's talks with BJP on government formation, Akhtar said back-channel contacts were in progress. The Assembly polls, whose results were declared on December 23 last, threw up a fractured mandate. PDP emerged as the single largest party with 28 seats in the 87-member House. BJP bagged 25 seats, NC 15 and Congress 12.

Abdullah resigned last week as caretaker Chief Minister. PDP and BJP have been in talks but failed to reach any agreement even three weeks after the results came, following which the Governor's Rule was imposed in the state last week. The deadline for forming the government was January 19.