Sources have indicated that in Jammu and Kashmir, the PDP, Congress and the National Conference are likely to join hands to form a popular government.
The state is currently under governor’s rule which cannot be extended after it completes its six-month period on December 19. It is proposed to impose President’s rule thereafter, but the 87-member assembly is not being dissolved, according to Governor Satyapal Mallik.
A popular government headed by the Peoples Democratic Party’s Mehbooba Mufti fell when its partner BJP pulled out of the ruling coalition on June 16
In order to checkmate efforts to prop up another BJP-backed government, mainstream parties such as the Congress, PDP and the National Conference are in touch to form a government.
The plan envisages a coalition between PDP and Congress, which have been partners in a government between 2002 to 2007, backed from outside by the National Conference. The PDP has 28 MLAs, followed by NC with 15 and Congress with 12 which will make up for a clear majority.
The sources in the NC made it clear that they were not interested in joining a coalition government but would not be averse to giving outside support. If such an arrangement comes about, Mehbooba Mufti is unlikely to be the chief minister and a senior PDP leader may be at the helm.