Baig to take oath as deputy CM J K tomorrow

Jammu, Dec 9 (UNI) Senior People's Democratic Party (PDP) leader Muzaffar Hussain Baig is likely to be sworn in as the Deputy Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir for a second time as Ghulam Nabi Azad-led state cabinet goes for expansion tomorrow, sources today said.

Leaderships of both coalition partners in the State Government, Congress and the PDP, have arrived at a consensus for the cabinet expansion but only Mr Baig will be given the oath of office and allegiance by Governor Lt Gen S K Sinha (Retd) in a ceremony at Raj Bhawan here tomorrow, well-placed sources told UNI.

Born in Wahidna, a small hilly village in Baramulla district of the Kashmir valley, Mr Baig had to step down as the Deputy Chief Minister last year.

Besides Mr Baig, an eminent lawyer, some other names are also being considered for the ministerial berths, the date for swearing in for which will be decided after Poonch (Haveli) assembly constituency by-election where Congress-PDP are jointly contesting, sources disclosed.

In the Congress camp, sources said, there is tug-of-war like situation among its MLAs.

''Ms Khemlata Wakhloo from Kashmir region and Ms Kanta Andotra of Jammu province are front runners as women representatives in the Azad ministry, while Mr Mula Ram is being considered as favourite for representing the scheduled castes community in the legislative assembly,'' sources added.

UNI