Scotching rumours of government formation with PDP, the General Secretary of Congress Party in charge Jammu and Kashmir, Ambika Soni told WION that there is no question of forming the government with PDP. “The matter has not been discussed at any level. It is not on the table and what is being said is pure speculation,” she said.
Sources inside the Congress Party said that PDP has lost political capital and Congress will not try to form the government in current scenario or at least in the present assembly as it would adversely affect the party.
On Monday, Congress Kashmir Group also held a meeting under the leadership of former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh where issues related to JK were discussed.
The meeting was attended by General Secretary of the state Ambika Soni, Leader of Opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad, former Finance Minister P Chidambaram and other Congress leaders.
It was decided by the group to immediately dispatch a delegation to Kargil and Leh to discuss issues faced by the workers of the party.
Ambika Soni herself will be flying off to JK on Tuesday to meet 100 odd important functionaries of the state. WION was told that Kashmir Group reviewed the political situation of the state and decided to project the development work which was achieved under the Congress regime.
“The idea is that people should be able to judge which government did a better job,” said one of the leaders who attended the meeting. Congress leadership understands that ground situation deteriorated under the PDP-BJP rule and they must utilize the time available because of the President’s rule to reconnect with people and energise the cadre for future election.
When asked about probable alliances with likeminded parties in JK on the lines of Grand Alliance, Ambika Soni said, “Mahagathbandhan was a political initiative taken by Sonia Gandhi. It is not at my level that an issue like this would be decided but I do think that anti BJP vote must be consolidated by the Congress. But this is for Congress President Rahul Gandhi to decide and not by a General Secretary of the party.”
Congress understands that NC too has sought elections in the state and Congress must meet its former ally from a position of strength pre- or post-polls. It is for this reason Congress Party has become very active once again.
