RSS steps in to save alliance

Dinesh Manhotra

Tribune News Service

Jammu, February 11

With the PDP and BJP easing their tough posturing, the state unit of the Sangh leadership is exploring possibilities to restitch the alliance.

Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) leaders of the state held discussions with the central leadership of the RSS and the BJP for the second day on Thursday to get some issues resolved to facilitate government formation in the state.

Although BJP leaders Nirmal Singh and Sat Sharma today returned to Jammu after attending Wednesday’s meeting, state RSS leaders Ramesh Pappa, Brig Suchet Singh (retd) and Purshotam Dadhichi extended their stay at the Capital by a day.

“The state RSS leadership today interacted with senior BJP leaders as well as other stalwarts of the Sangh Parivar to brief them about the prevailing political situation in J&K,” a source said, adding that the Sangh Parivar has already given its consent to the BJP to restitch the alliance with the PDP in the only Muslim-majority state of the country.

“The only hindrance in the formation of the alliance is to convince PDP president Mehbooba Mufti to take oath as Chief Minister to break the stalemate,” a source said. “After the Sangh’s consent, the BJP leadership has decided that it would announce some concessions to placate the PDP but it wants Mehbooba Mufti to take the oath first,” the source added.

A leader, who was privy to Wednesday’s crucial meeting at Delhi, disclosed that the majority of the members were of the view that Mehbooba Mufti should be convinced to take oath as Chief Minister and all issues raised by her party should be addressed thereafter.

Meanwhile, the PDP leadership has also opened a channel of communication with BJP leaders. Sources said senior PDP leader and former Roads and Buildings Minister Altaf Bukhari held a meeting with his former BJP colleague Bali Bhagat at the latter’s residence two days ago. “After getting an encouraging response from Bhagat, Bukhari also met former Deputy Chief Minister Nirmal Singh to deliberate on the prevailing political situation,” a source said, adding that some senior PDP leaders also attended the meeting to thrash out the modalities for forming the government.

A former minister, who was present at the meeting, told on condition of anonymity, that leaders of both parties were of the view that the opportunity of forming the government should not be missed.