Srinagar, October 29
Asserting that the PDP had a “programme-based alliance” with the Congress, Mufti Mohammad Sayeed said here today that his government would persuade the Centre to hold unconditional talks with militants in Jammu and Kashmir. He said all coalition partners had certain commitments with the people for which they had agreed on a common minimum programme.

Talking to newspersons after being unanimously elected as the leader of PDP legislature party, Mufti Mohammad Sayeed said the new government in the state needed help of the NDA government at the Centre, adding that his party would stick to the agenda. Mr Sayeed held that elected members of his party at today’s meeting resolved to go ahead with its agenda and fulfil the aspirations of the people of the state. A strategy to fulfil the promises made to the people would be worked out unitedly by all parties, he said.

Leaders of the other legislature parties will meet Jammu and Kashmir Governor Girish Chandra Saxena with documentary evidences of the support of their elected members and to stake claim for government formation tomorrow. There has been a delay of 20 days in the formation of the Cong-PDP coalition government.

The National Conference president, Mr Omar Abdullah, was among those who called on the nominated Chief Minister, Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, at the latter’s Nowgam residence today. This is for the first time after the recently concluded Assembly elections that the NC leader had a meeting with the PDP leader. Mr Omar Abdullah had a half-an-hour meeting with Mr Sayeed. Several other leaders and senior officers have also been meeting the designated Chief Minister after his arrival from New Delhi yesterday.

The PCC chief, Mr Ghulam Nabi Azad, who has already been elected as the CLP leader, is arriving here from Jammu tomorrow. Two other leaders, Mr Bhim Singh of the Panthers Party and Mohammad Yusuf Tarigami of the CPM are also scheduled to arrive here tomorrow. Led by the PDP president these leaders would be meeting the Governor at 5 p.m. tomorrow with regard to the formation of the coalition government in the state under Mr Sayeed.