Azad completes one year in office

Srinagar, Nov 2: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad will complete one year in office.

On November two last year, he was sworn-in as the tenth Chief Minister of the state, replacing Mr Mufti Mohammad Sayeed of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) at the end of his three-year term.

The change of guard took place as per a power sharing agreement reached between the PDP and the Congress after the 2002 Assembly elections threw up a hung House. Under the agreement, each party was to rule the state for three years each.

The two parties agreed to hold the posts of Chief Minister and the Deputy Chief Minister on a three-year rotational basis. The state Assembly has a six-year term.

Despite being a senior partner in the coalition, the Congress allowed the PDP to govern the state for the first three years, the term which expired on November two last year.

Mr Azad, 57, became the first Chief Minister of the state from the Jammu region, thus fulfilling a long-pending demand of the people of the division. He hails from Soti, a remote village in the Doda district's Bhalessa area.

Jammu and Kashmir has had the tradition of a Chief Minister always belonging from the Valley.

Mr Azad's assuming the post marked the return to power of the Congress in Jammu and Kashmir after about 30 years. His one year in office has been eventful.

The sex scandal, alleged increase in human rights violations, attacks on tourists, floods and the alleged increase in militancy-related incidents rocked the state during his tenure.

However, Mr Azad was instrumental in introducing several changes in the functioning of the state administration. Double-shift system, improving work culture, enforcing accountability and steps to check rampant corruption have been some the highlights of his government.

The most important decision taken during Mr Azad's rule was the creation of new districts and tehsils in the state.

Eight new districts, three sub-divisions and 12 tehsils were created to meet the regional and sub regional aspirations of the people of the state. The Kashmir and Jammu regions would now have 10 districts each while the mountainous region of Ladakh two.

The new districts announced are Kishtwar, Samba, Reasi and Hill district of Ramban in the Jammu region while Bandipora, Kulgam, Ganderbal and the hill district of Shopian in the Kashmir division.

The Department of Information and Public Relations would organise a function at the Sher-i-Kashmir International Convention Centre (SKICC) here tomorrow to mark the comnpletion of one year in office by Mr Azad. A documentary film and special publications would be released besides a photo exhibition held on the occasion.

UNI