Mehbooba Mufti still mum over government formation in Jammu Kashmir

While maintaining suspense over government formation, PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti today met Jammu-based party leaders, a day after arriving from Srinagar for the first time since the demise of her father and the then chief minister Mufti Sayeed about a month back.

Mufti visited Jammu region's party headquarters at Gandhi Nagar and met party leaders for two-and-a-half hours.

It was her first visit to the party headquarters here since Mr Sayeed's death on January 7.

She did not speak to the media but her party's MLC and spokesman Firdos Tak said BJP will need to respond to issues raised by Ms Mufti before any steps could be taken for coalition government formation.

"She (Mehbooba Ji) has categorically stated that some CMBs need to be taken by the Centre. BJP has sought time. It is they who will have to explain," he said.

"Both coalition partners have to sit and decide," he said.

On BJP leader Ram Madhav's statement there will be no condition for the formation of the government, Mr Tak said, "there are no fresh conditions from PDP side. We want the implementation of the 'Agenda of Alliance' formed by both the coalition partners."

With regard to time-line for formation of the government, he said, "Until the CMBs are not initiated (by New Delhi), there can be no government formation."

Ms Mufti had asserted after meeting Governor NN Vohra yesterday that PDP "cannot move forward" in forming government with BJP unless the Centre takes "tangible" CBMs to address the causes of alienation and works towards a lasting solution to the state's problems.

Ms Mufti, who was invited by Mr Vohra for consultations on government formation, told him that she would like to see the Centre take "concrete steps" to address causes of the state's "political uncertainty, economic disempowerment, development deficit, unfulfilled promises" before she makes any moves to form the government with BJP.

Mr Vohra, who had stepped in to break the month-long impasse, also held consultations with BJP leaders, including former Deputy Chief Minister Nirmal Singh, who said the party will take any step only after PDP elects its Legislature Party leader and notifies the Governor about it.

BJP asked the Governor for 10 days' time to "resolve whatever is outstanding" with PDP.