Srinagar/Jammu, September 1
The crisis in the Congress-PDP coalition continued for the second consecutive day today with the Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad impressing upon Muzaffar Hussain Beig not to resign from the Cabinet. This followed the recommendations of the PDP legislature party to the Chief Minister for replacing Mr Beig by Mr Abdul Aziz Zargar as the legislature party leader and Deputy Chief Minister.

The Chief Minister, Mr Ghulam Nabi Azad, who visited Ladakh today on his scheduled tour, will be meeting the Congress high command in New Delhi tomorrow to sort out the differences in view of the reshuffle of portfolios.

The Congress high command has reportedly asked the PDP leadership in Jammu and Kashmir to go ahead with its decisions and at the same time impressed upon the coalition parties not to disturb the present arrangement.

In view of the ongoing crisis the corridors of civil secretariat housing offices of the Chief Minister and other ministers, remained virtually deserted today. The political leadership, mainly of the PDP members was up to building pressure on the Chief Minister for the new arrangement as recommended by the PDP legislature party.

Meanwhile, the crisis seems to be further deepening with the Peoples Democratic Front (PDF), an 11-member constituent group of Independent members heading for a split. Separate meetings to work out modalities were held by two prominent members of the PDF in view of the present crisis here today. One was held by the former Minister, Sofi Ghulam Mohiudin, who had not been included in the Azad-led coalition government last year. The other meeting was separately held by Hakeem Mohammad Yaseen, who continues to be a Cabinet minister in both the coalition governments.

However, both the leaders were not available for comments as they were busy in meetings till the filing of this report.

The Panthers Party MLA and former minister in the Mufti-led coalition government, Mr Harshdev Singh has demanded fresh elections after dissolution of the Assembly saying that the present arrangement was not going on smoothly.

While Mr Beig kept everybody guessing today, some of the MLAs from the Congress and opposition National Conference called on him here today. Sources here said that Mr Beig was impressed upon by the leaders not to resign from the Cabinet.

However, the PDP chief, Ms Mehbooba, has already written a letter to Mr Azad seeking the expulsion of Mr Beig from the Cabinet.

Ms Ambika Soni, Central minister and in charge of the Congress affairs in J&K, has made it clear that it was the internal matter of the PDP and the person nominated by the party for the post of Deputy Chief Minister would take over.

Interestingly, the legislature party, through a resolution, has also revoked the suspension of a senior MLA, Mr Ghulam Hassan Mir. He was suspended during the by-election to the Sangrama Assembly seat in Baramula district about four months ago when he backed the rebel candidate Mr Shoaib Lone and campaigned against the nephew of Mr Beig who was contesting on PDP ticket.

The tacit move for rapprochement by the party has helped the PDP muster the support of four sulking MLAs by sacrificing Mr Beig. Mr Sarfaraz Khan and Mr Zahoor Ahmed Mir, two MLAs who were supporters of Mr Mir, participated in the meeting of the legislature party last night.

Mr Shoaib Lone, who had won the election as an independent candidate following the assassination of his father G.N Lone, is also a supporter of Mr Mir and was expected to support the PDP now.

Mr Beig and Mr Mir were political rivals as both belong to the Baramula district of Kashmir.