A shrewd move by Sonia Gandhi – Congress to allow Mufti continue as Chief Minister of Kashmir
Balaji Reddy
Oct. 24, 2005

It is the shrewd move by Sonia Gandhi.

A consensus to allow the PDP leader to continue as the Chief Minister for some more time is understood to have emerged at a meeting of the congress core group, convened by party president Sonia Gandhi.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee, Human Resource Development Minister Arjun Singh, AICC general secretary Ambika Soni, political secretary to the congress president Ahmed Patel and Kashmiri leaders Dr Karan Singh and Prof Saifuddin Soz were among those who attended the meeting.

Mr Mufti Mohammed Sayeed is likely to continue as Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir for a few months more beyond the November 2 deadline for the transfer of power to the congress under the power-sharing agreement.

Though the members of the panel expressed the view that Mr Sayeed should be allowed to continue at least for some more time at the helm of affairs in the state, reeling under the impact of the October 8 earthquake, they have left the final decision to the congress president.

Mr Sayeed, who is here to discuss the leadership issue in the state with the congress high command, earlier held discussions with the Prime Minister.

During the 40-minute meeting, the chief minister apprised the Prime Minister of his views on the transfer of power, informed sources said.

Mr Sayeed also briefed the prime minister on relief and rehabilitation measures being undertaken by his government in the aftermath of the quake, which has badly affected Uri and Tangdhar areas.

The political situation in the state also figured during the talks, the sources said.

Although Union Urban Develeopment and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Gulam Nabi Azad is the top contender for the chief ministership on the congress side, some argue that the post should go to a leader who has a mass base in the state.

A shrewd move by Sonia Gandhi – Congress to allow Mufti continue as Chief Minister of Kashmir
Balaji Reddy
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