Srinagar, November 2
After a stalemate of over three weeks and a two-week-long Governor’s rule, Mufti Mohammad Sayeed was sworn in as the Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister at the head of a nine-member Council of Ministers by the Governor, Mr Girish Chandra Saxena, at a simple function at the SKICC here today.

Congress leader Mangat Ram Sharma was sworn in as the Deputy Chief Minister while five others of the PDP, Congress and Panthers Party were sworn in as the Cabinet ministers. Two Independents from the Ladakh region were also administered oath as ministers of state.

The Congress President, Mrs Sonia Gandhi, accompanied by Dr Manmohan Singh, who arrived from New Delhi, were among those who attended the swearing-in ceremony. The PCC chief and LCP leader, Mr Ghulam Nabi Azad, besides Mrs Ambika Soni, were also present on the occasion. National Conference President Omar Abdullah and some former ministers and legislators were also present.

Adequate security measures had been taken and traffic on roads leading to the SKICC had been diverted. No civil vehicles were allowed to pass through the area.

The nine-member ministry includes seven Cabinet ministers and two ministers of state. These include three PDP members, three Congress members, one Panthers Party member and two Independents.

The PDP members are Mufti Mohammad Sayeed (not an elected member), Mr Muzaffar Hussain Beg and Mr Ghulam Hassan Mir. The Congress members are Deputy Chief Minister Mangat Ram Sharma, Mr Peerzada Mohammad Sayeed and Mr Mulla Ram. While Harsh Dev Singh is from the Panthers Party.

Independents Nawang Rigzin from Leh and Haji Nissar Ali from Kargil have been made ministers of state. The distribution of portfolios have not been finalised yet. The Cabinet will have its first meeting here tomorrow and is expected to give a final shape to the portfolios.