Cong, PDP begin to clear landmine: a joint agenda

PDP president Mufti Mohammed Sayeed, vice-presidents Mehbooba Mufti and Muzaffar Hassan Baig, held a two-and-half-hour long discussion with Congress leaders Manmohan Singh and Arjun Singh.

Mufti emerged from the meeting holding a copy of the PDP manifesto and a list of suggestions from the Congress, the Congress said once the common programme is agreed upon, the CM issue would be decided between Sonia Gandhi and Mufti tomorrow ‘‘if required.’’

Claiming that ‘‘much progress’’ has been made during the talks, Arjun Singh said, ‘‘The CMP is not final yet and hopefully, the discussions will conclude tomorrow. It is only after that, if required, the PDP leaders will meet the Congress president.’’

‘‘To discuss the chief ministership ahead of the CMP, would be putting the cart before the horse,’’ Arjun Singh said.

He also said that after the first round of discussions, there were no ‘‘rough edges’’ with the PDP on the programme. ‘‘We are trying to draw up a plan for implementing the mandate of the people of J-K in real sense,’’ Arjun Singh said.

Singh, however, declined to elaborate on what exactly did the Congress get the PDP to agree upon. The PDP had come to the meeting with some ‘‘fresh suggestions,’’ and the Congress is understood to have found them ‘‘encouraging’’.

Incidentally, Congress candidate for CM, Ghulam Nabi Azad, wasn’t present at the meeting. Asked why, Arjun Singh said: ‘‘He had worked closely with us the drawing up the common minimum programme.’’

Soon after his arrival, Sayeed struck an optimistic note on government formation, saying the difficulties were merely ‘‘birth pangs.’’ ‘‘People of Jammu and Kashmir have given us a golden opportunity by defeating the National Conference. We should arrive at some sort of consensus, a common minimum programme to face the challenge and end the turmoil in the state,’’ he told reporters.

‘‘Being a national party, Congress has national concerns. We are a regional platform with regional aspirations. We will certainly iron out the problems and find a way out. People who have participated in the polls in difficult circumstances will force us to do so.’’