While the National Conference (NC) openly expressed its readiness to form a coalition government with the Congress, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is now attempting to soften its stance against the Congress, even declaring in a volte-face that it does not have a problem with Ghulam Nabi Azad being the Congress’s chief ministerial candidate. Meanwhile, sources said that both the PDP president and senior NC leaders have flown to Delhi for a meeting with Sonia Gandhi on government formation in the state. Former chief minister Ghulam Nabi Azad and Union Water Resource Minister Saifuddin Soz will also be present.

Speaking to The Indian Express, PDP president Mehbooba Mufti said that it was up to the Congress to decide whom it wants to be the chief minister. “It is not an issue for us, whether they choose Saifuddin Soz or Ghulam Nabi Azad,” she said, maintaining that a coalition would be possible only if there was a common minimum programme.

The PDP’s new “flexibility” over the Congress’s choice of chief ministerial candidate assumes significance since the party had a bitter falling out with him over the Amarnath land row.

But though Mehbooba hinted that the party would consider a repeat arrangement with the Congress, she stopped short of pressing for it. “If the Congress goes with NC we will play the role of a healthy opposition.”

However, Mehbooba insisted that the PDP would make a better government.

“PDP is the only party which can work for the development of all the three regions of the state. Mufti sahib provided a very stable government and the party also has a presence in Jammu. We won on two seats and lost by only a slim margin in Jammu on the third seat.”

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