No new CM, Governor rule likely in Jammu and Kashmir

SRINAGAR: J&K is likely to be placed under Governor’s rule as Peoples Democratic Party chief Mehbooba Mufti is unwilling to take oath as chief minister till the end of mourning for her father Mufti Mohammad Sayeed. The mourning will complete on Sunday and thus Mehbooba could take oath as the first woman chief minister of the state on Monday.

With the death of chief minister Mufti Sayeed in office, the government ceased to exist in J&K and both the coalition partners — BJP and PDP have to submit letters to the Governor assuring support to the PDP’s CM nominee. Then the CM can take the oath along with the colleagues from both the alliance partners. Till then, state will remain under Governor’s rule.

Governor NN Vohra will send a report to President, seeking permission to promulgate his rule in the state. “There is no constitutional crisis. As per the situation, Governor would be the caretaker of the affairs of the state,” PDP founder member Muzaffar Baig said here. For Mehbooba, a senior PDP leader said, the situation is like Greek tragedy, “as the greatest tragedy in her life is also the stepping stone to the greatest glory she may have in her life”.

Both the alliance partners have maintained that the delayed swearing-in ceremony will not impact their relationship. BJP’s general secretary and one of the primary architects of this alliance Ram Madhav met Mehbooba Mufti in Srinagar and assured her of BJP’s support.