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PDP may sit in Opposition
Ehsan Fazili
Tribune News Service

Srinagar, October 14
In a surprise development, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) here today stiffened its stand on a coalition with the Congress Party, and decided instead to sit in the Opposition in case no agreement is reached with that party on a common minimum programme, prior to the formation of a new government in Jammu and Kashmir.

Talking to waiting newsmen after the two-hour long meeting of the newly elected PDP members, which, however, did not elect its legislature party leader, the PDP Vice-President said it would not compromise on the promises made to the people of Jammu and Kashmir prior to the recently concluded Assembly elections in the state. The meeting was attended by the party President, Mufti Mohammad Sayeed. The General Secretary, Mr Muzaffar Hussain Beigh, could not attend the meeting as he continues to be in the union Capital.

Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, who returned today from New Delhi after deliberations with the Congress President, Ms Sonia Gandhi, and other senior Congress leaders, is scheduled to meet the Governor, Mr Girish Chander Saxena, here tomorrow. This follows an invitation from the Governor to the leader of the three major political parties in the state following the Assembly elections, in which none of the parties has got a majority to stake claim for the formation of the government. The National Conference President, Mr Omar Abdullah, and the PCC chief and LCP leader, Mr Ghulam Nabi Azad met the Governor separately at Raj Bhavan today.

“We cannot compromise on our basic agenda to be in power. The people of Kashmir have reposed confidence in our party and our agenda, and therefore, we cannot compromise on that”, Ms Mehbooba Mufti said at the end of the meeting at their residence in Nowgam, on the outskirts of the city. She said the promises made to the people would not be fulfilled unless an agreement was reached with the Congress party, which has been working on reaching an agreement to form a coalition government in the state.

Ms Mehbooba, who has been elected from Pahalgam constituency in south Kashmir, has been authorised by the party leaders to appoint its legislature party leader, she said, adding that the option on the possibility of a coalition with the Congress party was still open.

Omar quits, NC to stay with NDA
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, October 14
Mr Omar Abdullah today resigned as the Minister of State for External Affairs but said that National Conference (NC) would continue to remain in NDA.

Mr Omar Abdullah who is also president of the NC, met Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee and handed over his resignation. Later, he said NC’s ties with the NDA would continue.

He said he had resigned from the Council of Ministers because he was needed more in Jammu and Kashmir to strengthen his party.

However, a spokesman for the PMO said Mr Vajpayee had not taken any decision on the resignation so far.