‘Mufti Saheb, take charge’

The deal was sealed at 10, Janpath after the PDP agreed to put its radical poll manifesto on the backburner and govern the state under a common minimum programme (CMP) acceptable to the Congress and other coalition partners. The CMP will be made public on Sunday afternoon after all partners go through the contents.

Sources said that as of now, both have agreed on ‘‘assimilating’’ the much-feared Special Operations Group into the state police force—PDP wanted its disbanding—and ensuring an end to alleged excesses by security forces. On the more contentious issue of ‘‘talks with militants,’’ the Congress, it is learnt, has got the PDP to agree to a much broader definition: reaching out to those who lay down their arms.

Admitting that many in her party, state chief ministers included, wanted the Congress to head the coalition, Sonia said she decided to let ‘‘Mufti Saheb’’ be the Chief Minister ‘‘in the larger interest of J-K, the people in the Valley.’’

‘‘It was the right thing to do,’’ Sonia said, emerging from the meeting with Sayeed, Democratic Peoples Forum chief Y M Tarigami and Panthers Party head Bhim Singh. Also present were Azad and senior Congress leaders Manmohan Singh and Arjun Singh who have been the party’s key negotiators.

‘‘We will sit again tomorrow and the CMP will be spelt out at 4 pm after it’s seen by other coalition partners. I will be honest with you. The working committee and chief ministers were consulted and the majority view was that we should head the coalition. But I decided in the larger interest of Jammu and Kashmir, the people in the Valley,’’ Sonia said.

A beaming Sayeed, who was Union Home Minister in the V P Singh government and whose daughter’s abduction ended with the swapping of jailed militant, said the parties ‘‘decided to unite and have a common understanding’’ in order to fulfil the aspirations of the people.

‘‘This is a golden opportunity, a turning point in the history of Jammu and Kashmir. The nitty-gritty of the coalition is being discussed. We are working on consolidating secular and democratic forces and providing a healing touch in the state,’’ Sayeed said, describing his talks with the Congress as ‘‘extensive, a great effort.’’

Azad put up a brave front, saying ‘‘individuals do not matter as we are incidental to the entire democratic process.’’ He said the CMP was all-important as it would ‘‘bring normalcy and fulfill aspirations of Jammu, Kashmir, Leh and Kargil.’’