Mehbooba Mufti to be next J-K CM

While Peoples Democratic Party leader Rafi Ahmad Mir claimed Mehbooba Mufti will be the next Jammu and Kashmir chief minister, the Bharatiya Janata Party is keeping cards closed to its chest.

The power tussle between Farooq and his brother-in-law G M Shah led to a permanent estrangement and also saw the latter becoming Chief Minister with Congress support.

Later in November-December Assembly elections, PDP got 28 seats and in March 2015 it formed its second government in Jammu and Kashmir-this time in an alliance with BJP. “Some fake accounts on social media are spreading rumours”, Akhtar told KNS over phone from New Delhi. He was also India’s first Muslim Home Minister when he became one during VP government in 1989.

Mehbooba is seen to have worked to consolidate the PDP base in the Kashmir valley.

Subsequently, he was given the charge of Tourism and Civil Aviation Ministry in the year 1987.

Sayeed, 79, is survived by his wife, three daughters including PDP President Mehbooba Mufti, and a son.

Home Minister Rajnath Singh will be flying to Srinagar to attend Sayeed’s funeral.

“The contribution of Mufti Muhammad Sayeed to Jammu and Kashmir and India through long years of public service will always be remembered”, Mukherjee added. “Then a letter will have to be sent to the state governor by her claiming a majority in the 87-member”. In the absence of the “inspiration” of her father, the first biggest challenge for Mehbooba would be to keep her flock together.