Short spell of governor’s rule may follow in J&K; ‘Bereaved’ Mehbooba not

Then in 1999, when Mufti split from the Indian National Congress to form the Jammu and Kashmir People’s Democratic Party, she took on the charge of being vice-president. Former chief minister of India-held Kashmir Omar Abdullah also expressed sorrow at the demise of Mufti Sayeed, extending his sympathies for the chief minister’s family.

A constitutional crisis in Jammu and Kashmir will be averted if someone is quickly sworn in as the new chief minister after the death of Mufti Muhammad Sayeed, a constitutional expert said on Friday.

Senior PDP leader Naeem Akhtar said Mehbooba was very close to her father and it would take her some more days to take a call on the issue.

Meanwhile PDP insiders said the party has taken a strong exception over some bureaucrats insisting on an early oath-taking ceremony.

Sources said the PDP and BJP were yet to formally convey to the Governor, as per constitutional requirement, about their decision as to who would be their next person for the Chief Minister’s post.

Talking to reporters at Mehbooba’s Fairview residence at Gupkar, senior PDP leader Naeem Akhtar said Mehbooba is a traditional Kashmiri woman and an affectionate daughter and right now was not in the right frame of mind to take oath as the CM.

“One thing is certain, after her father died, Mehbooba Mufti is in deep shock and any hint of the BJP trying to derive political mileage before committing support to her could jeopardize the entire arrangement between the two parties”.

Mehbooba Mufti is now not a member of the Legislative Assembly or the Legislative Council and she will have to get elected either to the Legislative Assembly or be nominated as member of the Council within six months if she takes over as Chief Minister.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid glowing tributes to Sayeed and offered homage to him at the technical area of the Palam airport before the body was flown to Srinagar in an air force plane.

Ruling out any constitutional crisis, Beig also stated that there is no infighting in the party or between the coalition partners.

Diagnosed with sepsis, decreased blood count and pneumonia, Sayeed was admitted to AIIMS on December 24, with complaints of neck pain and fever. “Mufti Sahab provided a healing touch to Jammu and Kashmir”.

The state has declared seven days of mourning as a mark of respect to the departed leader.

Sayeed became the home minister in the V.P. Singh government.