New Delhi: People's Democratic Party (PDP) president Mufti Sayeed on October 12 asserted that the issue of Chief Ministership in Jammu and Kashmir was not going to be a problem between the Congress and his party as he arrived in New Delhi to discuss with Congress president Sonia Gandhi a "strategy" and "programme" for a coalition government.

With the focus of formation of the new government in Jammu and Kashmir shifting to New Delhi, Sayeed told reporters on his arrival in New Delhi that his party alone could not name anybody for Chief Ministership and the issue needed to be decided mutually by Congress, PDP and other supporting groups.

"The question of who will be the Chief Minister is a non-issue. There is no dearth of appropriate candidates as there are a galaxy of leaders in Congress and PDP," he said.

The Congress-PDP combine have together 36 seats and are short by eight to form a government but they have the support of independents to cross the half-way mark in the 87-member Assembly.

Sayeed, whose party has won 16 seats, said the Chief Minister will be decided through "mutual consultations".

"The first priority is to form a non-National Conference government as the people of the state have given a verdict against it and it needs to be honoured," he said, adding an understanding and common minimum programme (CMP) needed to be evolved between the coalition partners.

He said he would meet Gandhi and discuss with her "total strategy and programme" of the coalition.

PTI