Former PM Deve Gowda arrives in Srinagar on 2-day visit

Srinagar, Oct 9: Former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda Wednesday arrived in Srinagar on a two-day visit.

After landing at Srinagar Airport, Deve Gowda was received by former chief minister and National Conference (NC) President Farooq Abdullah.

A top official told Greater Kashmir that Deve Gowda had specifically come to congratulate the NC President for the massive victory in the J&K assembly elections.

After landing at the airport late Wednesday afternoon, Deve Gowda had a long meeting with Farooq Abdullah at Hotel Taj Vivanta where Deve Gowda is putting up on his two-day visit.

“As of now, it is clear that he has come to congratulate the NC President while his other schedule is not known so far. Farooq Abdullah and Deve Gowda had a long meeting at Taj Vivanta till late evening,” the official said.

It is Deve Gowda’s second visit to Kashmir in the last 40 days.

Earlier, Deve Gowda visited J&K and inspected the Srinagar-Baramulla railway line besides taking a review of several key infrastructure projects initiated during his tenure.

His last visit was part of his initiative to assess the progress and facilities provided to the passengers on this crucial railway line, which was sanctioned as a national project during his time as Prime Minister.

Besides taking a review of the Srinagar-Baramulla railway line, he also reviewed several key infrastructure projects initiated during his tenure.

His visit is significant with the government formation around the corner in J&K.

Given his back-to-back visits, a top official said that the former PM was closely monitoring Kashmir.

“This time he seems to be on a private visit,” a top Police official said.

The legislature party of the NC is scheduled to meet on Thursday to elect their leader in the J&K Assembly.

NC President Farooq Abdullah said that his son Omar Abdullah will be the chief minister of the J&K.

The NC on Tuesday emerged as the single largest party with 42 seats as results of the J&K assembly polls were declared.

The party is comfortably placed to form the government as its alliance with Congress with 6 seats and CPI (M) with one seat makes it steer ahead of the majority mark of 46 seats in the 90-seat J&K Legislative Assembly.