Senior Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad on Wednesday confirmed that discussions were being held among the National Conference, the PDP and the Congress to form a government in Jammu and Kashmir. Azad's statement has set the political cauldron in the state simmering.
The development has come in the wake of senior PDP leader Muzaffar Hussain Baig's statement on Tuesday that a third front by Sajad Lone of Peoples Conference (PC) should be encouraged. Baig, in a press conference, said Lone was like his son and Peoples Conference a home. Baig further added that he would "seriously consider joining" the third front, which was needed because people wanted something new.
Welcoming Baig's comments, Lone tweeted: "A person of his stature, experience, and intellect can be a defining attribute of the emerging third party. I remember him as my favourite during my childhood. I was his pampered brat."
The comments had given rise to widespread speculations regarding the formation of a third-front government in Jammu and Kashmir. That is when Azad stepped in with his comments. Talking to news agency ANI, Azad said on Wednesday: "Our parties have said why not we join forces to make government. That stage has not reached yet. It was a suggestion on which we are holding discussions".
According to reports, the Congress is keen on a three-party tie-up to sideline the BJP in Jammu and Kashmir. Prior to imposing Governor's rule in the state, Jammu and Kashmir was ruled by the BJP-PDP alliance before the two parties decided to end the relationship.
A possible coalition between the three parties could also foil attempts by the BJP to encourage defections in other parties.
The formation of a government by the three parties in Jammu and Kashmir ahead of the impending Lok Sabha elections would be a severe setback to the BJP that was recently met with the resignation of its Ladakh MP Thupstan Chhewang. Chhewang had decided to leave politics to pursue spiritualism.
