PDP will decide on Dy CM of J

New Delhi, Sep 1 (UNI) The Congress today termed the developments in the coalition partner People's Democratic Party(PDP) in Jammu and Kashmir as its internal matter,and said there was no threat to the stability of the Ghulam Nabi Azad-led government.

Dismissing all reports about Mr Azad refusing to remove his Deputy Chief Minister Muzaffar Hussain Beg belonging to the PDP as mere speculation, Congress Spokesman Abhishek Singhvi said it was not the Chief Minister who would decide on the next incumbent for Deputy Chief Minister's post. "It is neither possible nor legally sound to do so,"he said.

Mr Singhvi told reporters here that the PDP had communicated to the Chief Minister that it would decide soon on who would become the Deputy Chief Minister in the Congress-PDP coalition Government."It is the PDP which will decide its candidate for the Deputy Chief Minister." The Congress and the Chief Minister have nothing to do with the developments in the PDP, he said.

Asked whether the Chief Minister would accept somebody else being nominated as the Deputy Chief Minister by the PDP, Mr Singhvi said "naturally." When a journalist drew his attention to National Conference leader Farooq Abdullah having reportedly told a TV channel that his party would be prepared to extend support to the Congress-led Government in the State, the Spokesman pleaded his ignorance about any such offer made.

UNI YS RP KN1819