Srinagar: Senior Congress leader Manmohan Singh's talks with People's Democratic Party (PDP) chief Mufti Mohammad Sayeed to break the stalemate in the two parties' efforts to sew up a coalition government in Jammu and Kashmir failed to make headway on October 20.

Emerging from a 45-minute one-to-one meeting the Mufti, Singh told reporters he would have another round of talks with the PDP chief on October 21. "The process continues and I have nothing more to say," Singh said.

Shortly before the talks with the PDP chief, Manmohan told reporters, "I have come to talk to Mufti and like-minded groups to fulfil the aspirations of the people and form the government."

"I am optimistic. I think things will change and change for better," he said.

"It is not a question of change. It is a question of working together. My effort is to find a way where we can enlist the co-operation from Mufti and other like-minded parties to work together and achieve our common objective," Singh said on the prospects of forging an effective coalition in the state.

Asked when would Congress stake claim to form the government, he said, "Let this session with Mufti succeed first."

PTI