'Have joined hands' says PDP leader on ‘grand alliance'

Senior Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leader Altaf Bukhari Wednesday said that people of Jammu and Kashmir will soon get ‘good news’ as the PDP, Congress and National Conference have decided to join hands to form the government.

“There is a progress [on the talks] among the three parties. Keeping in view the political situation and special status of the state, the three parties have decided to join hands,” he told reporters after meeting NC leader and former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah.

While confirming the reports of ‘grand alliance’ between PDP, NC and Congress, Bukhari, who is emerging as prospective chief minister candidate said the three parties have decided to join hands and form a government to defend the special status of the state.

“Article 370 and 35A are our main issues. All this is being done to safeguard them,” he said.

Bukhari, who was finance minister, in previous PDP-BJP government led by Mehbooba Mufti, said that announcement regarding the talks and the alliance will be shared soon.

Earlier, senior Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad had confirmed that talks were going on over government formation in the state.