A seven-day state mourning has been declared in honour of Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mufti Mohammed Sayeed, who breathed his last at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in the national capital early this morning.
Meanwhile, the mortal remains of Sayeed are being brought to Srinagar from New Delhi.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi earlier paid his last respects to the departed soul at the Palam Airport in New Delhi.
Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh would also travel to Srinagar to attend the People's Democratic Party (PDP) veteran's last rites.
The PDP has hinted that party president Mehbooba Mufti would take over as the next Chief Minister.
"This matter was not decided, but obviously our choice is the party's president Mehbooba ji. Mehbooba ji has worked against all odds, she is the only choice in the party," said PDP leader Rafiq Mir.
Sayeed, who was born in 1936 in Bijbehara, Jammu and Kashmir, had previously served as Chief Minister from 2002 to 2005. He was also the Home Minister of India from December 1989 to November 1990.
He had founded the Jammu and Kashmir People's Democratic Party in 1999.
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