PDP To Continue With Existing Cabinet Arrangement With BJP

As the state unit of BJP is pitching for “equal” share in cabinet ministries in the upcoming government with PDP, the alliance partner has said that it will continue with the already existing arrangement between them.
“Our alliance with BJP will continue with the already existing arrangement that was done by late Mufti Mohammad Sayeed Sahab. There will be no reshuffle in the portfolios of the ministers with BJP. Even Mehbooba ji has clearly said it in Jammu after she met Governor (N N Vohra),” a senior PDP leader told media.
The BJP has been demanding equal share in cabinet ministers and MoS with each cabinet minister. The right-wing saffron party is also pitching for finance, and planning in the upcoming government.
BJP state General Secretary Ashok Koul had told media “there are many portfolios on which discussion is on with PDP, but Finance and Planning is the epicenter of the discussion”.
However, PDP has refused to give in so far.
PDP president and chief minister designate, Mehbooba Mufti had said in Jammu soon after meeting the Governor with letter of support from his legislators to form the government that there will be no reshuffle in ministers with the BJP.
“Our ministries will remain with us and their will remain with them. It will be a coalition government, and we will not work separately,” she had said.
In the previous PDP-BJP coalition, PDP had 11 cabinet ministers, BJP had eight members, including PC chairman Sajad Lone and both the alliance partners had three ministers of state each.
On the date of oath taking ceremony of Mehbooba, the PDP leader told KNS that the party is awaiting for the BJP to fix the date.
“Once the BJP proposes the date to the Governor, oath will be taken accordingly. The oath ceremony will be low-key and is likely to be held in Raj Bhavan in Jammu where preparations are ongoing for the vital event,” the leader said.
Though the Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to attend the oath taking ceremony of the government, but BJP has not confirmed officially yet about his arrival.
Meanwhile, PDP president after returning from Jammu has been holding deliberations with senior party leaders and the party MLAs over the modalities of the government formation and the party affairs.
The PDP chief held a meeting with senior leader and MP, Tariq Hameed Karra, this week and today Mehbooba held a meeting with party district heads and senior workers and sought their opinion and consultation on the government formation and party affairs.
Sources in PDP said that the CM designate told the workers that the party “will not compromise with the agenda of peace and development laid out by late Mufti Sahab”.(Agencies)