Supported by BJP, Mehbooba stakes claim to power

The die for government formation in Jammu and Kashmir was cast on Saturday with Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti staking claim to power and the BJP supporting her claim before Governor N.N. Vohra at the Raj Bhawan here.

After meeting Vohra, both Mehbooba Mufti and Nirmal Singh, leader of the BJP legislature party, told reporters the process of government formation by the two alliance partners had begun after Mufti claimed to form the next elected government in the state and the BJP supported her claim before the governor.

Addressing the media after she came out of Raj Bhawan, Mehbooba Mufti said: "The vision of Mufti Muhammad Sayeed will be fulfilled with renewed vigour by our government. Mufti Sahib's vision of development and peace will be fulfilled by the coalition government to be headed by me".

Asked whether there had been any last minute hitch over portfolio sharing with the BJP, she said: "Portfolios are not important. That is something we can sit together and sort out."

Nirmal Singh said his party had supported Mehbooba Mufti's claim to power and the new government would take office in the state soon.

Asked to specify the date when the oath taking ceremony of the new government would be held, Singh said no date had been decided yet for the oath taking ceremony and the same would be mutually decided during the meetings of the two parties in the coming 2-3 days.

Jammu and Kashmir was placed under governor's rule on January 8, a day after then chief minister Mufti Muhammad Sayeed passed away in New Delhi.