Srinagar, Dec 30: The PDP on Tuesday said it was ready to play the role of a "constructive opposition" in Jammu & Kashmir as it did not have the numbers in the assembly to form a coalition government with the Congress.
"There have been no talks about supporting or not supporting....We have left the decision to the Congress since we do not make the numbers together (to form a government)," party chief Mehbooba Mufti said.
Replying to questions, she said, "we are ready to sit in the opposition...We have a party, we have an agenda, we have our programmes to follow.
"So once they (National Conference and Congress) form a government, we are ready to play the role of a very constructive opposition and we want them to perform well. There should be confusion about it," Mehbooba said.
She expressed happiness that a democratically elected government has come to power after a long time and said, “I wish Omar well.”
Dismissing speculations about her party’s decline Mehbooba said, “PDP is the only party whose vote share increased in the Assembly elections.”
She seemed miffed at Congress’ attitude and said, “We have been part of UPA, so as part of courtesy they should have called us.” She however evaded questions on whether she is still a part of UPA or not.
Mehbooba's remarks assume significance as NC and Congress go into talks to form the next government in the border state under the leadership of Omar Abdullah.
After the 2002 assembly polls, the PDP and the Congress ruled in J-K by turns with two parties getting the chief minister's post in rotation but fell out with each other in the aftermath of the Amarnath land row earlier this year.
PDP withdrew support to the Congress-led government in June, leading to resignation of the then chief minister Ghulam Nabi Azad followed by dissolution of the state assembly and promulgation of Governor's rule in the state.
Congress’ own decision to align with NC
Srinagar: The PDP on Tuesday said it is Congress' discretion to align with National Conference for forming a government and that there has been no communication between his party and the Congress so far.
"It is their (Congress') own discretion whether to align with National Conference," PDP patron Mufti Mohammad Sayeed said and dismissed as speculation PDP has offered unconditional support to Congress for forming a government.
"There has been no communication with either the UPA chairperson or the Prime Minister," he said but added he expected that as a coalition partner the Congress should talk to them morally.
When a reporter suggested that there was a tinge of pain in him, Sayeed said "there is no question of any pain. Politics is the art of the possible. I have seen many such situations in the past."
First Published: Tuesday, December 30, 2008, 00:00