PDP yet to decide about J

Srinagar, Sep 1 (UNI) The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Jammu and Kashmir tonight said it was yet to decide on the candidate for the Deputy Chief Minister's post.

''We have not yet decided on the candidate for the Deputy Chief Minister's post. No decision has been taken in this regard so far,'' senior PDP leader and Housing and Urban Development Minister Tariq Hameed Karra told UNI here.

He said the emergency meeting summoned by PDP President Mehbooba Mufti last night was to elect the new legislature party leader and not the next Deputy Chief Minister.

Mr Karra said the meeting unanimously elected Agriculture Minister Abdul Aziz Zargar as its new legislature party leader, replacing Deputy Chief Minister Muzaffar Hussain Baigh who has been recalled from the state Cabinet.

Highly-placed sources said that certain quarters within the ruling coalition had raised objections to Mr Zargar becoming the next Deputy Chief Minister in the wake of the allegations that the militants who attacked Akshardham temple in Gujarat on September 24, 2002 had taken shelter in his ancestral house at Manzgam in Anantnag district of south Kashmir.

They said the choice is now between former Toursim Minister and rebel PDP leader Ghulam Hassan Mir and Mr Karra, who is considered to be very close to Ms Mufti.

The sources said the PDP high command would any time revoke the suspension of Mr Mir, a known critic of Mr Baigh.

The move would pave the way for Mr Mir to become the next Deputy Chief Minister, they said, adding he might also get all the important portfolios of Finance, Planning, Law and Parliamentary Affairs held so far by Mr Baigh.

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