Electoral arithmetic dictated government formation with PDP: Jaitley

Jammu, April 12 (IANS) Senior BJP leader Arun Jaitley on Tuesday said that despite ideological differences with the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the electoral arithmetic dictated the formation of a coalition government in Jammu and Kashmir by the two parties.

"Jammu gave overwhelming mandate to the BJP in assembly elections while the PDP emerged as the single largest party in the valley during those elections," Jaitley, who is also the union finance minister, said.

"If you look at the arithmetical possibilities of those elections, the only possible government formation is by the BJP and the PDP joining hands with each other.

"The ruling alliance has been formed despite ideological differences. This is well known to our PDP friends. The objective of this alliance is the development of the state," he said.

"It is a difficult situation. But every party must contribute to help the development of the state," Jaitley told BJP leaders and workers during the inauguration of the party's hi-tech office in Trikuta Nagar locality of Jammu city on Tuesday.

He said the Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) relationship with Jammu and Kashmir is not merely political, but it is more emotional and ideological.

"When Jana Sangh was formed in the country, yeoman services were rendered by stalwarts like Pandit Prem Nath Dogra and others. We have given sacrifices for safeguarding our ideology in Jammu and Kashmir," he said.

Jaitley said soon the BJP would have party offices in every district headquarter of the state and the country.

"It is only possible to remain in touch with the ground realities if you have party offices on the ground," he said.

Jitendra Singh, the minister of state (Prime Minister Office), who represents the Kathua-Udhampur seat in the Lok Sabha accompanied Jaitley during the inauguration of the party office in Jammu city.