Congress dares PDP to withdraw support in J

Srinagar, May 17 (UNI) The Congress in Jammu and Kashmir has ruled out mid-term polls in the state and dared the Peoples Democratic Party to withdraw support to the ruling coalition.

''There is no possibility of a mid-term poll in Jammu and Kashmir. Let the people who threaten to withdraw the support to the government do so,'' state Congress President Peerzada Mohammad Sayeed said at a political convention here.

''We will show them that our government will last till 2008,'' the state haj and Auqaf Minister added.

Addressing a public meeting at Magam in central Kashmir district of Badgam on May 14, PDP Chief Mehbooba Mufti had reportedly said the mid-term polls in the state could not be ruled out.

Ms Mufti said some ''dramatic changes'' were expected in the political situation in Jammu and Kashmir after the second round-table conference, convened by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, here on May 25.

Deputy Chief Minister and senior PDP leader Muzaffar Hussain Baig, at the same meeting, alleged that conspiracies were being hatched to create differences within PDP-Congress coalition.

''The coalition has stood the test of time and will not be impacted by the nefarious designs of certain individuals,'' he said.

Mr Baig claimed that some individuals in the Congress were working against the spirit of coalition.

''But, these attempts will be foiled. If the PDP, at any stage, finds that its agenda was getting diluted, the party will prefer people over power,'' he said.

Media reports had quoted PDP president Mehbooba Mufti as having told a public meeting at Magam last week to prepare for mid-term polls.

Mr Sayeed said the mid-term poll was a propaganda spread by those frustrated with the successful Congress government in the state.

UNI AG VD BD1908