New Delhi: Amid positive signals from PDP over government-formation in Jammu and Kashmir, BJP on Thursday hoped a formal dialogue will be initiated by them within the next two days.
BJP said it would be a part of the next government in the state following the public mandate in its favour and any arrangement that excludes it will be seen as negating it.
A delegation of senior party leaders in Jammu and Kashmir, including state unit chief Jugal Kishore Sharma and senior leader Nirmal Singh, will meet J&K Governor N N Vohra tomorrow and discuss with him their party's plans over government- formation.
The meeting will come a day after PDP leader Mehbooba Mufti met the state Governor today and dropped hints of her party was not averse to joining hands with BJP as she invoked A B Vajpayee and said the mandate in the state was an "opportunity" for Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
BJP general secretary Ram Madhav said "an initial contact has been established between the two parties" and her comments will help take forward formal discussions.
"We appreciate Mehbooba Mufti's gesture through the media. We await formal initiation of dialogue," he said.
He maintained that "all options are open" for BJP as its leaders have been in talks with lower-rung PDP leaders for government-formation after the polls produced a fractured verdict with PDP emerging as the single largest party with 28 seats in the 87-member Assembly closely followed by BJP with 25 seats.
Sources said besides formal talks with PDP, informal talks with Mufti Mohammed Sayeed and Mehbooba Mufti have also taken place over telephone.
Party sources add the BJP leadership has also been in talks with leaders of National Conference, including outgoing Chief Minister Omar Abdullah.
BJP sources said Mehbooba's remarks will help take the state forward on the path of development by providing a stable government to the state.
They said BJP expected the talks with PDP to begin in a couple of days.
