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Indian-controlled Kashmir may soon get gov't as party leader meets Modi

Xinhua, March 22, 2016 Adjust font size:

Mehbooba Mufti, the head of the Indian-controlled Kashmir's People's Democratic Party, Tuesday met Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the national capital in a bid to break the impasse over government formation in the northern state.

In fact, the state has been under the president's rule and without a government since January this year after Mehbooba refused to take oath of office, following the demise of her father and the then Indian-controlled Kashmir's Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Saeed.

"The meeting with the prime minister was very positive," Mehbooba told the media after the talks.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which is a coalition partner of the People's Democratic Party, in the state government has, meanwhile, made its stand clear.

"We are committed to the alliance agenda. But Mehbooba has to make up her mind," Indian Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said Monday.

Discontent has been brewing in Mehbooba's party also, with a former minister and party leader Mohammad Ashraf Mir saying, "Everybody wants government formation. We want government formation. We have been given a mandate and there should be a government."

The BJP and the People's Democratic Party had joined hands last year to form a coalition government after no party got a majority in the state elections. Endit