By Raqib Hameed Naik, TwoCircles.net
Srinagar: Ending the three-month speculation over the formation of new government in Jammu and Kashmir, Mehbooba Mufti, President, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was elected as the leader of the state’s Lower House Thursday, thus becoming the first women chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir.
Mehbooba, the daughter of late J&K Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Syed, had been reluctant to take call on government formation after her father’s death in coalition with the right-wing BJP. However, it was after her meeting on Tuesday with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, where she was assured of all help from centre to J&K that she decided to take up the position.
In 2014 Assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir, PDP got 28 seats which were reduced to 27 after the death of Mufti Mohammad Sayeed.
PDP’s senior leader Muzaffar Hussain Baig, Member of Parliament from North Kashmir, conducted the meeting of legislators who chose Mehbooba Mufti to be PDP’s legislative assembly leader. Talking to press after the meeting, the PDP chief thanked the Party legislators for choosing her as their leader.
“Besides all the PDP MLAs, the meeting was also attended by Independent MLA from Zanskar, Syed Bakar Ali Rizvi, who pledged his support to Mehbooba Mufti,” PDP spokesperson, Naeem Akhtar said in a statement this evening.
“Following the nomination of Mehbooba Mufti as the PDP Legislature Party leader and the chief ministerial candidate, further constitutional requirement and the process for the government formation would be taken to the logical conclusion in consultation and coordination with the coalition partner BJP,” he added.
The PDP president in her speech has criminated some former ministers against whom there were complaints.
“I will ensure that the next government will see ministers who have clean image and deliver for the welfare of the people. And now it is the responsibility of the PDP and the would-be ministers to work for the people of the state who have reposed their trust on us,” a local news agency quoted her as saying.
Meanwhile, BJP National General Secretary Ram Madhav and Union Minister of State in PMO, Dr. Jitendra Singh will meet BJP legislators in Jammu to review the current political situation in the state and elicit their (MLAs) opinion ahead of meeting Jammu and Kashmir Governor on Friday.
The crucial meeting will be held on Friday in which all the BJP legislators and its top leadership will take part.
Governor N N Vohra has written to PDP president Mehbooba Mufti and BJP state president Sat Sharma to meet him on Friday to clarify their stand on government formation.
The BJP and PDP delegations had earlier met the Governor separately on February 2 when the Governor had sought their stand on government formation.
Jammu and Kashmir was placed under Governor’s rule on January 8, 2016 after the death of Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed.
On Tuesday, March 22 Mehbooba had met Prime Minister Narendra Modi, following which she said, “It was very positive and good to address the issues pertaining to the people of the state.”