PDP-BJP must form J&K govt on April Fool's Day

April 1 is about celebrations. On one hand, it coincides with “April Fool's Day”. And, on the other, it marks the commencement of the new financial year.

Along with the myriad reasons to celebrate, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)-Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP) alliance could have been more memorable had they agreed to begin their second innings of governance in Jammu and Kashmir on this day.

But amid hopes and fears over the fate of the new government, the date of oath-taking is conspicuously missing.

After three months of deadlock, the failure of a consensus over the mahurat of swearing-in ceremony is the new trouble; looking for good omen, they are getting dragged towards the worse.

Rumours are flying thick and fast to hint at possible reasons behind the stalemate, which the people are curious to know about.

Barring a few, the J&K-based dailies are flooded with such reports.

On March 28, Srinagar-based Rising Kashmir said: "The right-wing BJP is delaying the swearing-in of the new government to avoid the inauspicious Krishna Paksha, the dark lunar fortnight or the waning moon in the Hindu calendar."

Two days later, the newspaper reported: "The swearing-in ceremony of Mehbooba Mufti-led PDP-BJP coalition government in the state may be delayed as the BJP has demanded equal share in the power and does not want interference from its coalition partner in transfers and postings of civil or police officials of the Jammu division."

There’s no end to theories. And, their combination is a bombshell.

On March 31, the newspaper reported that “BJP is nurturing PDP president Mehbooba Mufti’s ‘Bad Bishops’ to cut the ‘Queen’ to size.”

Quoting sources, the newspaper said: "The BJP is cultivating at least four big guns of PDP and keeping them in good books to checkmate Mehbooba for playing hard-ball with them after the death of her father and two-time chief minister Mufti Muhammad Sayeed on January 7."

Earlier, on March 22, Jammu's Early Times exposed that some PDP MLAs (at least 12 to 15), in league with BJP, were planning rebellion against the party high command if she failed to end the three-month deadlock. The same afternoon “insecure” Mehbooba flew to New Delhi and hurriedly sealed the pact after talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

But then, if all is well, why there’s delay in government formation? The twin parties genuinely owe an explanation to the people, because, as of now, their silence is making things look mysteriously ridiculous.

As reports of ever-mounting mistrust between the two allies go, it would have been ideal for them to form the government on April 1. If not a lasting alliance, the commitments of the new government would constitute a classic laughing stock.