With only 12 MLAs, Congress ready to accept Mufti as CM

The PDP, with 28 seats, has emerged as the largest party in the state.

Pradesh Congress Committee Saifuddin Soz said some power hungry-political groups and individuals are trying to subvert the verdict. “An experienced and forward-looking politician like Mufti Mohammad Sayeed should be allowed to lead a coalition government in the state with the support of other like-minded parties and groups,” Soz said, adding that this way alone the people’s verdict would be respected.

He added that the RSS-BJP leadership should appreciate the sensitivity of the border state and not indulge in any kind of horse-trading.

“That kind of short-sighted political arrangement would certainly attract a social commotion and spoil the gains from a credible, free and fair election,” he said.

Referring to the state’s militancy problem and the devastating 2014 floods, Soz said: “It is a time when a government should be at the helm to reconstruct the economy, rehabilitate a suffering mass of people and ensure governance that brings relief,” he said.

A majority of Congress legislators have reportedly informed the high command that they would were ready to see Sayeed as the CM for the full six-year term to keep the BJP out of power.

Congress sources said the party’s leadership has got in touch with independent Assembly members in the Valley who had good relations with the Congress in the past.

They added that four such MLAs had assured Congress that in case PDP stakes claim to form the government they would prefer to sit with the Congress – PDP alliance than in any alliance cobbled by the BJP.

The Congress leadership is learnt to have conveyed to PDP patron Mufti Mohammad Sayeed that they only need to arrange support of one more legislator to form the next government.