New Delhi: The Congress party on Thursday hailed Mehbooba Mufti’s decision to go ahead with the government formation in the state, but, asked as to why the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) chief took two-and-a-half months to decide that the alliance should continue.
Congress leader Rajeev Shukla told ANI that Mehbooba owed an explanation to people of the state for taking such a long time to decide.
“It is a good thing that a government is being formed. But what was the need to take two-and-a-half months time for it? After the demise of Mufti sahab, we were hoping that a government would be formed soon. … They should focus on giving a stable government instead of these stand-offs,” Shukla said.
“They should make it clear why they took such a long time,” he added.
Former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah earlier echoed similar views and said that the PDP chief should reveal to the people as to why she had agreed for this without ‘getting anything from the Centre’.
“She kept us under the impression that she would ask for something from the Centre, like funds, or power projects, issue of AFSPA etc,” he added.
The PDP MLAs today unanimously elected Mehbooba as the legislature party leader.
Speaking at the PDP meeting, Mehbooba thanked the party workers for extending their support to her and for backing her during testing times.
After meeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi on Tuesday, Mehbooba had said that she would take a final decision regarding the government formation and PDP-BJP alliance after consulting her party MLAs in the legislature meeting.
Describing her meeting with the Prime Minister as positive, the PDP chief had expressed satisfaction about its outcome.
Jammu and Kashmir Governor NN Vohra has called separate meetings with the PDP chief and BJP State president Sat Sharma tomorrow.
Jammu and Kashmir was placed under Governor’s rule on January 8 after Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed’s death on January 7. (ANI)