The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) MLAs on Thursday unanimously elected party chief Mehbooba Mufti as the legislature party leader, paving the way for her to take over the reins of the government as Jammu and Kashmir’s first woman chief minister.
Speaking at the PDP meeting, Mehbooba thanked the party workers for extending their support to her and for backing her during testing times.”I would like to thank all of you. Today you have once again elected me as the leader of legislative party. I thank you for your support.
Mehbooba Mufti has no power, you all are the power of Mehbooba Mufti…All workers, people of the state stood behind me in these testing times,” she said.
Earlier on Thursday, all eyes were on the crucial PDP legislature party meet which was to discuss the government formation in Jammu and Kashmir.
After meeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi on Tuesday, Mehbooba had said that she would take a final decision regarding the government formation and PDP-BJP alliance after consulting her party MLAs in the legislature meeting.
Describing her meeting with the Prime Minister as positive, the PDP chief had expressed satisfaction about its outcome.
Mehbooba met Prime Minister Modi at the latter`s official 7, Race Course Road (RCR) residence in the national capital in a last ditch effort to renew the partnership between the PDP and BJP to form government in Jammu and Kashmir.
The BJP had earlier said that it was committed to the implementation of already agreed agenda of alliance.
Jammu and Kashmir Governor NN Vohra has called separate meetings with the PDP chief and BJP State president Sat Sharma tomorrow.
Jammu and Kashmir was placed under Governor`s rule on January 8 after Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed`s death on January 7.
Mehbooba represents south Kashmir`s Anantnag constituency in the Lok Sabha.
After the decks are cleared at the state legislature party meet, she is all set to become the first woman chief minister of India`s only Muslim majority state.
She will now have to get elected to either house of the state`s bicameral legislature and also resign her Lok Sabha seat.
