New Delhi/Srinagar: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and PDP have almost finalised the alliance in Jammu and Kashmir where Governor's rule was imposed on January 9 after political parties failed to muster the requisite number in 87-member House for staking claim to form government.
According to sources, If all goes well, the state will have a government before the commencement of Budget Session of Parliament which is slated from February 23.
It is believed that the two parties are in the last stage of finalising their ‘common minimum agenda' required for clinching the alliance.
Sources said that the PDP and BJP have agreed that they will have CMs for 3-year each. For the first three years, the PDP patron Mufti Mohammad Sayeed will be heading the government whereas the BJP will have to settle with the Deputy CM post. This government will have less number of ministers from the PDP and members from BJP will be given more responsibilities. After three years, the change of guard will take place in the border state with the BJP getting the CM post and PDP getting key ministries including Deputy CM chair.
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Ram Madhav, general secretary, BJP, said, “We also want early formation of government... but we are still working on the common minimum programme. Hope the state will have a government very soon.”
When asked about ‘deadline' set by the two parties, he said, “I can't give any time frame on this.”
"The issue is with the Chief Minister post," he added quickly.
Sources also said the two sides have made considerable progress on several contentious issues including Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA), Article 370 and soft borders with Pakistan.
Mufti Mohammad Sayeed will soon meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi to finalise the deal, they said.
The PDP had won 28 seats in the 87-member assembly, mostly from Kashmir. The BJP won 25 seats from Jammu and Ladakh. Governor's rule was imposed in the state on January 9 after political parties failed to muster the requisite number in the House for staking claim to form government.
