Mehbooba Mufti to take oath as first woman CM of Jammu and Kashmir
She will only be India’s second Muslim woman chief minister heading a coalition government with the BJP in the only Muslim majority state. Syeda Anwara Taimur was another Muslim woman who had served as the chief minister of Assam for six months earlier.
The 56,-year-old daughter of PDP founder Mufti Muhammad Sayeed, will take oath in a low-key affair at Raj Bhawan in Jammu tomorrow at 11.00 am.
With Mehbooba’s swearing in, the three-month-old governor’s rule in the state will also come to an end after death of incumbent chief minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, as the PDP and BJP did not stake fresh claim for government formation.
Jammu and Kashmir Governor NN Vohra, on Saturday invited Mehbooba to form and lead the PDP-BJP coalition government in the state.
“The Governor’s invitation to Ms. Mufti follows the earlier discussions with the PDP and BJP presidents regarding formation of government in the State and the subsequent communications received from her and Mr. Sat Sharma, President, J&K BJP in regard to this matter,” said an official spokesman.
A BJP leader, who is Jammu from last several days, told IBNS: “BJP is dropping a couple of ministers and will adjust some new ministers.” .
“We have no such information about cabinet reshuffle, as it is said cabinet will remain same as it was before Mufti Sayeed’s demise,” said the senior BJP leader.
Meanwhile, Peoples Democratic Party leaders in Jammu are busy with tomorrow's ceremony and not having enough time to chat with media.
“I have no time to talk but it is clear that PDP will reduce cabinet by dropping some ministers and hope that our two senior party leaders Muzafar Beigh and Tariq Hamid Qarah will get cabinet berth,” said a former minister of PDP.
Three months of stalemate in government formation ended after several rounds of hectic negotiations between the two parties and final meeting between Mehbooba and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
BJP and PDP had joined hands last year after no party got a majority in state elections. The PDP is the largest party with 28 seats - now 27 following Sayeed’s death - in the 87-member house. The BJP is second with 25 seats.
(Reporting by Saleem Iqbal Qadri)
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