Jammu, November 2
The desire of Mufti Sayeed to become the Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir has at last been fulfilled after 25 years and three futile attempts.
The efforts of the Mufti to grab the top slot began in 1977, when in his capacity as PCC chief, he withdrew the party’s support to Sheikh Abdullah which led to early elections in which the strength of the Congress was reduced to 11 from 58 earlier.
Thereafter, the Farooq government was toppled in 1984 after engineering defections which were reportedly the mastermind of the Mufti. Mr G.M. Shah, brother-in-law of Dr Abdullah, was installed as the Chief Minister, but he remained in office for about two years as the Congress again withdrew support to him which was followed by Governor’s rule.
Later, the Mufti resigned from the Congress and became the Home Minister during the Janata regime of Mr V.P. Singh. He formed his own People’s Democratic Party (PDP) about three years ago and played his cards well to become the Chief Minister, although his party’s strength was 16 against 20 of the Congress in a House of 87.
The status of Congress stalwart from Jammu Mangat Ram Sharma has also been elevated. He has been designated as the Deputy Chief Minister. He had been the Speaker of the Assembly during the coalition regime of the Congress and the National Conference.
While the Mufti has given representation to only two militancy-hit districts — Baramula and Anantnag in his Cabinet by appointing Mr Muzaffar Hussain Beg, Mr Peerzada Mohammad Sayeed and Mr Ghulam Hassan Mir in his ministry, he has denied representation to the districts of Srinagar, Kupwara, Budgam, Pulwama, Doda, Rajouri and Poonch. Kathua district of Jammu has also gone un-represented.
Mr Mula Ram is fortunate to have found a berth for the third time. He was also a minister in the coalition government of the NC and the Congress.
Mr Harshdev Singh of the Panthers Party had won the elections for the second time from the Ramnagar constituency of Udhampur and was adjudged the best legislator in the last Assembly.
With government offices opening here in winter on Tuesday, there will be a lot of political activity as the election to all four seats of the Rajya Sabha will be held on November 18 and the nominations will begin on November 8 three of the seats have fallen vacant due to the completion of the term of Mr Ghulam Nabi Azad, Mr Mirza Abdul Rashid and Mr Kushak Thiksey. An NC MP, Mr Sharif-ud-Din Shariq, had resigned last month.
In video: Mixed response
over election of Mufti Mohammad Sayeed. (
