Buzz over Mehbooba as CM as Mufti Muhammad ailing

Speculation rife in J&K; BJP unlikely to object

As Peoples’ Democratic Party patron Mufti Muhammad Sayeed’s health condition is not showing any considerable improvement, rumours are rife in Jammu and Kashmir and beyond that he may soon be replaced by his daughter, PDP president Mehbooba Mufti, as state chief minister.

In November last year, Mr Sayeed had, amid speculation that his failing health could prompt him to step down in favour of his daughter, hinted at such a possibility, saying: “It’s a democratic process. Mehbooba has been working in the field as party president, has represented an Assembly constituency and currently represents a seat in the Lok Sabha, so she deserves this.”

But on December 12, Ms Mufti, 56, sought to scotch such speculation about her taking over as chief minister while taking part in a television programme, saying: “No, I don’t want to.” When told that her father too had hinted at such a possibility, she said: “I’ve said no to him as well ... I’m not comfortable. I generally don’t disagree with my father, but this is a point on which I have.”

Back home, speculation was rife that she was reluctant mainly because the PDP’s coalition partner, the BJP, was not too happy about her becoming CM. But PDP sources also said Ms Mufti was optimistic about her father’s health, and wanted that he should complete his six-year term as chief minister.

Mr Sayeed, 80, took over as J&K chief minister at the head of a PDP-BJP coalition government on March 1 last year. Under the agreement reached between the PDP and the BJP, Mr Sayeed will remain CM for the full six-year term.

Suffering from multiple ailments, the Mufti was flown to New Delhi on December 24, 2015, where his condition is being closely monitored by a team of experts at AIIMS’ intensive care unit.

J&K government chief spokesperson and education minister Naeem Akhtar, however, said, “Mufti Sahib is recovering fast and, God willing, he should soon be with us.” He added: “It does not matter (whether Mr Sayeed is in New Delhi or in J&K). The chief minister is in touch with every minister. He sends his instructions, he is monitoring everything.”

BJP sources here said top party leaders have no objection to Ms Mufti replacing her father as CM as there seems to be is no alternative available to either partner to ensure the survival of the coalition government. The sources said the leadership of the RSS, the BJP’s ideological mentor, is also opposed to any tampering with the political arrangement in Jammu and Kashmir, and hence will gladly accept Ms Mufti as the state’s new chief minister.

Ms Muft, born on May 22, 1959, represents Anantnag in the Lok Sabha. After getting a law degree from the University of Kashmir, she joined active politics in the mid-1990s and was elected to the J&K Assembly for the first time in 2002. She was elected to the Lok Sabha from Anantnag in 2004 as well and soon after became the party president.