by Harish Gupta, National Editor, Lokmat Group
BJP wooing two PDP MP s in Rajya Sabha now
Harish Gupta
New Delhi, July 3
After breaking TDP in Rajya Sabha and walking away with four of the six MP s and winning over lone INLD MP, the BJP is eyeing the two MP s of the PDP in the Upper House. The BJP's own strength in the Rajya Sabha has gone up to 76 while NDA's support base touched 112. With the BJD and other friendly parties lending their helping hand, it has already gained a working majority in a House of 236. But the BJP is on the prawl to add in its kitty more MP s in the Rajya Sabha and hence eyeing the two PDP members.
If reports are to be believed, efforts to soften the two MP s in Rajya Sabha have been revived by the ruling party. If the speeches made by the two PDP Mps in the Rajya Sabha on Monday last is any indication, something is cooking in the pot.
Both the PDP MP s; Nazir Ahmed and Mir Mohammed Faiyaz spoke in the Rajya Sabha when the resolution for extending the President's rule in Jammu & Kashmir was brought by Union Home Minister Amit Shah. The chair gave special permission to them to speak though under the rule only one MP is allowed to express his views. Both Mps refrained from criticising the Modi government rather Nazir Ahmed said, “Amit Shah's visit to the Valley has raised a new hope in the state and its time wounds be healed.” Mir Mohad Fayaz also expressed similar sentiments and went a step further saying that mistakes of the past 70 years be not committted.
It is learnt that the two MP s also met the Minister of State in the Prime Minister's Office Dr Jitendra Singh who is a Lok Sabha MP from J&K. What transpired between the two is not known.
It may be mentioned that the BJP and the PDP parted company two years ago leading to the fall of the Mehbooba Mufti government. However, the Lok Sabha polls this year saw the BJP winning three seats in Jammu and Ladakh region while JK National Conference of Dr Farooq Abdullah winning all the three seats in the Valley leaving PDP high & dry. Even Mehbooba Mufti lost her Lok Sabha seat. Now the PDP is left with two MP s in the Rajya Sabha. There are already talks that the Congress and JKNC will enter into an alliance leaving PDP high & dry. Therefore, the BJP wants a toy hold in the Valley without a formal alliance.
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