Coalition with BJP in JK will continue, says PDP

PDP spokesperson Mehboob Beigh said, “The coalition between BJP and PDP to stand. No question of any other option like Congress.” In its first official confirmation, the PDP today has announced that coalition with the BJP will continue in Jammu and Kashmir. PDP spokesperson Mehboob Beg said, “The coalition between BJP and PDP to stand. No question of any other option like Congress.” He also said PDP president Mehbooba Mufti will take oath as the Jammu and Kashmir chief minister anytime after the end of the seven-day official mourning for…

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PDP will tie up with Congress or BJP? Mehbooba keeps everyone guessing

Keen to reset terms of coalition, but will not overturn her late father’s last biggest political decision, suspense surrounds government formation in Jammu and Kashmir after Mufti Mohammad Sayeed passed away. Mehbooba Mufti, who has been almost unanimously picked to be the next chief minister, is in no hurry to form a government. Speaking to the NDTV, sources said that Mehbooba was hurt the way the BJP government at the Centre treated PDP in relation with the release of economic packages. Political circles were teeming with speculations that an alliance between…

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Omar rules out unilateral support to PDP in govt formation

As suspense mounted over government formation in Jammu and Kashmir, National Conference leader Omar Abdullah tonight ruled out the party’s unilateral support to PDP from outside in any new dispensation with Congress backing. Omar, a former chief minister who was the late Mufti Mohammad Sayeed’s predecessor, also regretted the political uncertainty in the state where some people are “fishing in troubled waters” and asserted that an “accountable government” should be in place at the earliest. The state, where PDP is in alliance with BJP, is currently under Governor’s rule. “I…

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Mehbooba maintains the suspense

She had confided to BJP leaders her disappointment with the Centre over flood relief assistance Monday went by without Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leader Mehbooba Mufti taking oath as Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir in a sign that she was determined to take the post on her own terms. This was acknowledged by her ally, BJP, with its general secretary Ram Madhav (who had helped to negotiate the alliance) saying: “It is for the PDP to take the first call… It has to decide on its leader and come…

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Omar derides speculation on govt formation, Mehbooba’s critics

Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today scoffed at speculations over government formation in the state, saying they were nothing more than well crafted smoke and mirrors, and decried criticism of PDP leader Mehbooba Mufti. “You have a grief stricken daughter who isn’t ready to take over just yet. All the other stuff is well crafted smoke & mirrors, nothing more,” Omar wrote on Twitter. He said there was “so much needless speculation about what is & isn’t happening in the PDP or BJP and all of it…

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Governor reviews flood rehab, internal security

Governor NN Vohra today reviewed the progress on permanent restoration of assets damaged during the 2014 deluge, relief and rehabilitation of Kashmiri migrants and internal security at a high-level meeting with the Chief Secretary, Director General of Police and the Home Secretary. After his meeting with the Secretaries at the civil secretariat here today, the Governor held separate review meetings with Chief Secretary BR Sharma and later with DGP K Rajendra and Home Secretary RK Goyal. Vohra asked the Chief Secretary, who briefed the Governor about important matters pending since…

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Digvijay moves CVC against Gadkari post Zojila tunnel contract

Congress general secretary Digvijay Singh today petitioned the Chief Vigilance Commission (CVC) against Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari, accusing him of wrongdoing in the award of contract for the Zojila tunnel. Parallel to the submission, the Congress demanded that Prime Minister Narendra Modi sack Gadkari if he was serious about zero tolerance to corruption. Digvijay’s complaint to Chief Vigilance Commissioner KV Choudhry accuses Gadkari of nepotism in favouring Mumbai-based IRB Developers for award of the Zojila contract and says the Union Minister has close ties with Dattatreya…

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BJP puts counter conditions for PDP amid talks of alliance’s future in J&K

Jammu and Kashmir is witnessing fast-paced political developments after reports that the PDP-BJP alliance is under strain following the death of chief minister Mufti Mohammed Sayeed earlier this week. Sources have told Times Now that Mehbooba has set tough conditions for the BJP if they want to continue the alliance. According to sources, the PDP has made it clear that it can’t give the deputy chief minister’s post to the BJP, it has also asked for more central assistance and and asked its alliance partner to avoid speaking on sensitive…

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Possibility of Grand Alliance on Bihar pattern

Congress keen to share power with the PDP after demise of Mufti Sayeed While the Congress is trying to share power with the PDP and in this connection Ghulam Nabi Azad,leader of the Congress in the Rajya Sabha,is said to be playing a vital role in forging an alliance between the Congress and the PDP. Reports said that Congress Chief,Sonia Gandhi,is visiting Kashmir to pay her homage to Mufti Sayeed and in between she will have a detailed discussion with Mehbooba Mufti who is expected to take over as Chief Minister…

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Fresh intelligence inputs warn of terror strikes in J&K

Nine combat teams have been placed at maximum alert in Jammu and Kashmir following terror attack at Pathankot airbase. The teams comprise of India’s best fighting men, as per a report in Hindustan Times. Fresh intelligence inputs have warned of strikes against high-value military targets ahead of Republic Day, the report quoted a top army official as saying. The teams have been spread across the state with three Special Forces (SF) teams based in the Kashmir valley. Two are based in Jammu region and three reserve teams are stationed in Udhampur so that…

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