Srinagar, October 16
Providing a breather to the three major political parties which have so far failed to cobble an alliance to reach the magic figure of 44 to form a government in Jammu and Kashmir, the Governor, Mr G.C. Saxena, today extended the deadline for the show of strength till 5 p.m. on October 21.
As per the schedule, the term of the present Assembly was to expire tomorrow and a new government was supposed to be sworn in by tomorrow evening. However, the decision of the Governor has provided more time to the major political parties to negotiate among themselves or with the Independents to be in a position to stake claim for forming the government. The NC government of Dr Farooq Abdullah will continue to be in office as the caretaker government.
The order of the Governor came in the evening while the Legislature Congress Party leader, Mr Ghulam Nabi Azad, was trying to secure the support of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) of Mufti Mohammed Sayeed and the Independents to meet tomorrow’s deadline.
At his meeting with the Governor this morning Mr Azad did not stake claim of forming the government, but sought more time and appraised him that the Congress had not yet parted ways with the PDP and negotiations were still going on. Before leaving for Raj Bhavan, Mr Azad had detailed discussions with the Congress President, Mrs Sonia Gandhi. None of the other two parties has so far staked claim of forming the government.
According to Raj Bhavan sources in the talks that the Governor had with the presidents of the NC, Congress and
the PDP, they did not clarify the developing political situation adequately enough to enable the Governor to reach firm conclusions and decisions for moving towards a resolution of the issue in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution of Jammu and Kashmir.
The Governor has asked the leaders of the National Conference (NC), the Congress and the PDP to meet him along with the duly elected leaders of their respective legislature parties (in case the legislature party leader happens to be someone other than the party president) at a mutually convenient time on any day before 5 pm on Monday positively to clarify whether their party had the requisite support among the members of the newly constituted Assembly to form a stable government which will command majority or will otherwise be able to win a vote of confidence on the floor of the House.
The Governor has said that any of the leaders of these parties making such a claim will have to bring along the necessary evidence in their support, including any relevant resolutions of their party or their legislature party as well as valid letters of support from the parties, groups or individual members concerned who have given their clear agreement to join or support the government of their party or a coalition of which their party is a member.
The CPM MLA, Mr Mohammad Yousuf Tarigami, who is heading the group of seven Independents, at his meeting with the Governor earlier in the day urged that the time for staking claim to forming a government should be extended beyond tomorrow.
Mr Azad, Mr Tarigami and others mediating with the Mufti were busy in hectic discussions throughout the day. In an overnight development, Mr Azad made a last ditch effort of reconciliation with the Mufti and himself went to his residence this morning to personally break the deadlock with the PDP and hold fresh talks.
Meanwhile, it is learnt that the Mufti was adamant that he should be the Chief Minister and the Deputy Chief Minister could be from the Congress. However, sources said that the Congress high command wanted that the coalition government should be led by Mr Azad and none else.
Certain Congress leaders said the party had offered that with Mr Azad as the Chief Minister, there could be two Deputy Chief Ministers — one from the PDP and the other from some other party which supports the government.
The Mufti could head the coordination committee of the alliance partners to supervise the functioning of the government, they said.
