Ram Madhav meets Mehbooba Mufti in Srinagar

BJP general secretary Ram Madhav arrived in Srinagar on Wednesday evening to meet PDP president Mehbooba Mufti to break the stalemate over government formation in Jammu and Kashmir.

The Bharatiya Janata Party general secretary arrived on a special flight at the Srinagar international airport.

“He drove straight to the Fair View residence of Mehbooba Mufti on Gupkar Road in Srinagar and right now they are holding a one-on-one meeting there,” BJP sources told.

Madhav was authorised two days back by BJP president Amit Shah to meet Mehbooba Mufti to discuss formation of the PDP-BJP government in Jammu and Kashmir.

His arrival was expected ever since a stalemate over government formation occurred that resulted in imposition of Governor’s Rule after then chief minister Mufti Muhammad Sayeed died on January 7 at AIIMS in New Delhi.

After her father’s death, Peoples Democratic Party chief Mehbooba Mufti said the central government must take confidence building measures so that she can head a stable ruling coalition in the state.

The BJP’s stand has been that the agenda of alliance signed by the two parties last year that brought the coalition headed by Sayeed to power should be the only binding arrangement between the two parties.

Wednesday’s visit by Ram Madhav assumes significance since the outcome of his meeting may determine whether the two parties agree on government formation.

Ram Madhav is scheduled to fly back to New Delhi on Wednesday night to apprise the BJP high command about the outcome of his discussions.