PDP-BJP work on plan to mollify Sajjad Lone

Though the PDP-BJP coalition has decided to win over Lone by rejigging the cabinet, sources in Peoples Conference said Lone isn’t aware such development.

A day after Sajjad Lone refused to take charge of his “insignificant” ministry, the PDP and the BJP have worked on a plan to mollify him.

“Leaders from both the coalition partners discussed the issue today,” a source in the PDP told The Indian Express. “The leaders have decided either to change his (Sajjad’s) portfolio or to give him an extra portfolio. The issue will be resolved soon”.

Lone, who was given the portfolio of Science and Technology and Animal Husbandry, refused to take charge in protest on Wednesday and returned to the Valley instead of resuming his office in Jammu. J&K deputy CM and BJP leader Nirmal Singh said that Lone is a “competent person” and the party will use his services.

Meanwhile, Lone maintained he was not unhappy and tweeted: “Baseless and utterly false story attributed to us released by a top news agency… People r hell bent on creating a story when there is none (sic).”

Though the PDP-BJP coalition has decided to win over Lone by rejigging the cabinet, sources in Peoples Conference said Lone isn’t aware such development. “Nobody has contacted him (Lone) since yesterday morning,” one of Lone’s close aides said.

“Although it is an internal matter of the BJP because he is within their alliance, but we are also in favour of resolving it,” said a senior PDP minister.

Source:: Indian Express