Political uncertainty in JK as Azad yet to decide

Srinagar, Sep 1: Political uncertainty loomed large over Jammu and Kashmir as Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad was yet to take a decision on the fate of his deputy Muzaffar Hussain Baigh after the Peoples Democratic party (PDP) last night recalled him from the state Cabinet and also removed him as the Legislature Party leader.

The Chief Minister was at present away in Kargil. A decision on the fate of Mr Baigh was expected after his return.

Meanwhile, well-placed sources said National Conference (NC) chief Omar Abdullah and his father and former Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah have rushed to Delhi and were trying for an audience with Congress President Sonia Gandhi to discuss the emerging situation in the state following fresh developments within the ruling coalition.

Jammu and Kashmir plunged into political crisis yesterday after the Chief Minister refused to divest Mr Baigh of the important portfolios of Finance, Planning, Law and Parliamentary Affairs.

The sources said the PDP top brass, including patron and former Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed and party president Mehbooba Mufti, was ''unhappy, upset and angry'' over Mr Azad's stand.

The PDP had even sent a letter to Mr Azad in this regard.

They said the PDP leadership had decided to ''cut down to size'' Mr Baigh in the wake of his recent utterances, for lavishing praises on Mr Azad and describing him as the ''towering leader'' of Jammu and Kashmir, and also for ''ignoring'' the party agenda.

The party had decided to give all portfolios held by Mr Baigh to senior leader Tariq Hamid Karra. It was decided that Mr Baigh would be given Tourism and Housing portfolios only, they added.

The sources said it was the Chief Minister's prerogative to allocate portfolios to his Ministers, but in the case of a coalition government, all the ruling partners have to be taken into confidence and he cannot use his discretion against the wish of a major ally.

Mr Azad had in August expanded his Cabinet by inducting nine more Ministers, raising its total strength to 22.

The Cabinet expansion took place nearly 10 months after Mr Azad was sworn in as the tenth Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir on November 2 last year, replacing Mr Sayeed.

He then took almost three days to allocate the portfolios and only divested Mr Baigh of the Tourism portfolio and kept with him Finance, Planning, Law and Parliamentary Affairs.

The sources said the Chief Minister considered Mr Baigh as one of the most honest and efficient Ministers in his Cabinet and did not to divest him of lose the important portfolios. The move angered the PDP high command, which threatened to withdrew party Ministers from the coalition government, and an emergency meeting of legislators and senior leaders was summoned by Ms Mufti at the Gupkar residence of Mr Sayeed here.

The party decided to recall Mr Baigh from the state Cabinet and also removed him as the legislature party leader.

At the meeting, which lasted more than an hour, a unanimous resolution was passed, appointing Agriculture Minister Abdul Aziz Zargar the new PDP leader in the state Assembly and also nominating him as the new Jammu and Kashmir Deputy Chief Minister.

The PDP high command has sent a letter to Assembly Speaker Tara Chand informing him that the party had lost confidence in Mr Baigh as the Legislature Party leader and appointed Mr Zargar in his place, the sources added.

They said another letter has been sent to Mr Azad asking him to relieve Mr Baigh as the Cabinet Minister.

However, the sources said the PDP high command, at the meeting, decided to continue with its support to the Congress-led coalition government in the state. The party also decided to continue with its active participation in the coalition government, they added.

They said the PDP never wanted the state to plunge into political turmoil or foist mid-term elections on the people.

The sources said the PDP was likely to revoke the suspension of former the Tourism Minister Ghulam Hassan Mir. 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 portfolios held by Mr Baigh.

Meanwhile, the Congress in Jammu and Kashmir today described the developments in the PDP as its internal affairs, saying the party has nothing to do with these.

''The developments in the PDP are internal party affairs. The Congress has nothing to do with such developments,'' party's chief spokesman Mohammad Muzaffar Parray said in a statement here.

However, he reiterated that the coalition government will continue to serve the people as per the Common Minimum Programme.

UNI

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