J & K : Mehbooba Mufti to be sworn-in today

She will  be India’s second Muslim woman chief minister heading a coalition government with the BJP in the country's only Muslim majority state.

Syeda Anwara Taimur was another Muslim woman to have served as chief minister of an Indian state-Assam-in the past.

According to official sources, the  ceremony is scheduled to take place at 11 a.m. at the Raj Bhawan here. Governor N.N. Vohra will administer the  oath of office and secrecy  to Mufti and  her council of ministers. 

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,” an official spokesman said.

Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister M. Venkaiah Naidu and Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) Jitendra Singh, among others, will be present during the swearing-in ceremony.The Congress Party is boycotting the  ceremony.

Jammu and Kashmir was put under Governor’s Rule on January 8, a day afterthe  then chief minister Mufti Muhammad Sayeed passed away in New Delhi.

After three  months of stalemate the situation turned  promising following several rounds of hectic negotiations between the two parties and the final meeting between Mehbooba and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

BJP and PDP had joined hands last year after no party got a majority in the  state assembly 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.