The CPI (M) is likely to repeat history by not permitting its J-K unit to join the Mufti Sayeed-led coalition government.Though party state president Mohammad Yusuf Tarigami,who played a key role in bringing the Congress and the PDP together for government formation, is otherwise a hot favourite for a key Cabinet berth, he told The Indian Express: ‘‘Right now we are lending support to the government, other matters (regarding his joining the Cabinet) will be decided by the polit buro.’’ The CPI(M) polit buro in the past had been against joining coalition governments. Such tough stand had evoked criticism within the party after Jyoti Basu was not permitted to accept the Prime Ministership in the Third Front government and the job went to H.D. Deve Gowda. ‘‘By and large the sentiment of the old guard remains the same even now,’’ a senior polit buro member said.The party has two members in the J-K Assembly. And its rise as a popular political creed from the largely fundamentalist bastion of south Kashmir itself has surprised analysts.Meanwhile, Bhim Singh of the Panthers’ party clarified that he had extended his four-member party’s support to the Mufti Sayeed-led coalition government only after his three pro-Jammu demands were included in the Common Minimum Programme.Singh’s last minute support had raised many an eyebrow as he had earlier announced his opposition to the Muftis. Apparently keen to be seen as a champion of Jammu’s cause, Singh said his demands that have been included in the CMP are: Talks with the refugees from west Pakistan who are yet to get citizenship rights in J-K, consideration of the Wazir commission report that has awarded the Jammu region more districts and also commitment to get Dogri language included in the Eighth Schedule of the Indian Constitution.‘‘The Panthers’ Party has joined the coalition in the interest of providing a workable and viable government for the people of Ladakh, Kashmir and Jammu,’’ a party release issued today said.
