Srinagar: Congress on October 18 said the onus to end the political impasse in Jammu and Kashmir lay with People's Democratic Party led by Mufti Mohammed Sayeed by allowing Pradesh Congress chief Ghulam Nabi Azad to lead a coalition government.

"The imposition of Governor's Rule in the state is temporary and the extension till October 21 given to political parties to try and form a government still holds and now the onus to end the impasse lies with PDP," senior Congress leader Saifuddin Soz said.

Soz said the best course was that Azad lead the government in the state and PDP participate in it actively.

"PDP will have a position equal to that of Congress – almost – in the possible government and we will try to work on a mutually agreed agenda in the larger public interest," he said addressing the apprehensions of PDP that it would be unable to fulfill its electoral promises if it did not get the top slot.

"There will be a sense of achievement for PDP also," Soz said.

Explaining the insistence of Congress for the post of Chief Minister, Soz said the party had given a secular image to Jammu by defeating "communal forces" like BJP in the region. "That achievement cannot be altogether ignored," he said.

Soz also acknowledged PDP's performance in the elections in which it defeated important leaders of National Conference in the Kashmir valley.

Asked about PDP's manifesto which called for repealing POTA in the state and disbanding the special operations group of local police, believed to be other major stumbling blocks in an alliance, Soz said these can be worked out later.

PTI