Srinagar, Jul 02 : After many days of speculations and rumors regarding some PDP members entering into a secret dialogue with other parties for government formation, Peoples Democratic Party on Monday has sought to clarify that the only demand of the party was to seek an early election in the state.
Speaking to Kashmir News Service (KNS), the senior PDP leader and former minister Naeem Akhtar has said that his party does not respond to rumors but is of the view that an early elections should be called in the state. He said PDP has from the day the government collapsed in the state demanded an early elections and added that the elections should be called as early as possible.
Naeem Akhtar however refuted the speculations of any disorder in the party and said “we don’t respond to rumors. He added “Every party has its own view and we are not in a battle with NC or anybody else on this issue. The PDP calls for early elections in view of the fall of the previous government.”
When asked if the house was in order in the PDP, Mr Akhtar said, “the only thing I am saying we don’t respond to rumors.”
Pertinently, the former ruling party’s clarification has come at a time when political and social circles in the state are abuzz of un-verified rumors that various legislators of different political parties including PDP are considering of pulling out of their respective parties in an attempt to form a multi group coalition government.
Though none of the parties have openly approved the rumors but barring Congress no party has issued a formal rebuttal also.
The speculations of PDP holding secret talks with Congress were doing rounds in social media over last few days before senior Congress functionaries including former chief minister and opposition leader in Rajia Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad chose to issue a rebuttal on Sunday saying cobbling up with PDP was not even a remote possibility for Congress. Mr Azad said that Congress would not ally with PDP and the speculations regarding their alliance were false and baseless.
The largest in opposition National Conference however has targeted PDP of playing hide and seek and said the farmer ruling party’s silence on seeking early elections was ‘mysterious’ and carries a lot of meaning.
A senior National Conference leader wishing not to be named told Kashmir News Service (KNS) that like BJP, PDP also was giving room to horse-trading by not demanding early elections vehemently. He said National Conference has been vocal in seeking early elections but it was the equal responsibility of PDP too to seek an early end of the Governor’s rule by demanding early elections.
He added that the PDP’s silence was creating certain amount of doubt. He said that Mehbooba Mufti should have come openly in demand of early elections so that her house would remain intact and there was no scope for anybody to enter into any sort of horse-trading.
