New Delhi: Jammu and Kashmir Governor Girish Chandra Saxena is hopeful that a popular government will be quickly formed in the state, even as the two key players, Congress and People's Democratic Party (PDP), are set to hold crucial talks on October 25 to break the deadlock on government formation.

PDP chief Mufti Mohammed Sayeed is to meet Congress president Sonia Gandhi in what is described as make-or-break talks to resolve their differences, especially on the sticky issue of Chief Ministership.

Ahead of the talks, Saxena said in Srinagar it will be good for the state to have a popular government as soon as possible.

"I am hopeful that a government would be formed quickly," Saxena told a TV channel.

Both the parties will put their proposals on the table to resolve the issue of Chief Ministership, which is the major stumbling block in their coming together. One proposal includes the two parties sharing the Chief Ministership for a three-year term each but here too there are sharp differences over who will assume the reins for the first three years.

The talks are talking place after Gandhi decided on October 22 to give "one more attempt" to reopen the floundering dialogue after PDP vice-president Mehbooba Mufti telephonically pressed for more negotiations.

PTI