Days after pulling out of the government with its coalition partner Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the rightwing Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) national General Secretary Ram Madhav Wednesday held a two-hour long meeting with senior BJP leaders and People Conference (PC) Chairman Sajjad Gani Lone here in a local hotel.
Madhav was accompanied by BJP State President Ravinder Raina and some former ministers of the party including former deputy chief minister Kavinder Gupta.
According to sources privy to the meeting, Sajad is believed to play a “crucial role in the future roadmap” of the State vis-à-vis the possibility of formation of a new government.
A source said Lone had made it clear to the BJP top leaders that either he should be made the chief minister or the Governor rule should continue.
Lone was a minister in the previous PDP-BJP government from the BJP quota.
Later in a tweet, Madhav said he met Lone and some former BJP ministers to discuss about the roadmap for the State.
Reliable sources in BJP said several meetings had been held in the recent past with some former PDP ministers.
“The chances of formation of new government can’t be ruled out and there are talks going on with some people,” he said.
Meanwhile, sources in PDP said Congress and National Conference had approached few PDP legislators and offered some “goody goodies”.
A PDP leader, wishing not to be named, said some of the former ministers and sitting legislators were approached by both NC and Congress.
“The Congress approached a few PDP MLAs of those constituencies where this party is on a weaker wicket,” said a PDP leader.
He said NC was also trying to woo few PDP legislators.
Another PDP leader and legislator said BJP and Lone had held several meetings with some former ministers of Mehbooba Mufti’s government.
“Some efforts of horse trading are going on from different sides. Everyone is not loyal to the party (PDP). We can’t say anything. Politics is all about surprises and changing bedfellows,” he said.
Govt formation possible? BJP leaders hold meet with Sajad Lone
