'Grieving' Mehbooba to take over as CM: PDP

Ending uncertainty over government formation in Jammu and Kashmir, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Tuesday confirmed that party chief Mehbooba Mufti would take over as the Chief Minister.

PDP spokesperson Mirza Mehboob Beg, however, refused to divulge the exact date of the swearing-in ceremony.

"She is in pain, she is in grief and everybody should be given space for grieving someone who is so close and so dear, but the day she comes out of it things are clear that she will lead the government, and will take her father's mission ahead with rank and file of our party and everybody in the state," said Beg, adding that his party will stick to agenda of alliance in letter and spirit.

"We are talking about a daughter, who has lost her father - not only father, her mentor, philosopher and guide. I cannot fix a timeline that when she will come out of it, but she is trying her best. However, everybody should be given space for grieving someone who is so close and so dear," he added.

Meanwhile, BJP MLAs are holding a meeting at the residence of Deputy Chief Minister Nirmal Singh to discuss political situation in the state in presence of party's National General Secretary Ram Madhav.

Uncertainty over the government formation after the demise of Chief Minister Mufti Mohammed Sayeed intensified after Congress president Sonia Gandhi met Mehbooba at her residence to express her condolences on her father's death.

The Centre then rushed Union Minister Nitin Gadkari to meet her.