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| Mehbooba looking for options beyond her being CM | | Muzaffar Beigh among prospective names | | Early Times Report
SRINAGAR, Jan 23: Even as speculations are rife that PDP President Mehbooba Mufti will be the Chief Minister in the coalition Government, she is equally serious on 'Plan B', which is to explore options beyond her taking over as the CM.
Top sources told Early Times that Mehbooba, who has never been ambitious to personally come to power, is looking for some reliable leader from within her party, who could be entrusted with the high profile responsibility of taking over as the Chief Minister of the State. They said her personally taking over as the Chief Minister would be her last option.
Sources said veteran PDP leader and Member Parliament, Muzaffar Hussain Beigh tops the list of those who could be trusted for the post of the Chief Minister, in the coalition where BJP is the partner.
"Beigh Sahib's name has been in the minds, since the issue of continuing alliance with the BJP came up before the PDP leadership in the wake of death of late Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed," the insiders said.
They said despite pressures from the party cadres that she should personally take over, Mehbooba wants to be away from the chair of power. "She is more interested to be connected with the grassroots to further strengthen the party, which suffered hiccups after coming in alliance with the rightwing BJP in March 2015," the insiders said.
"The fact is that Mehbooba never wanted to be in power and this is why she never held any Ministerial berth. Even though earlier also, in 2003, when PDP came to power in Kashmir she could have easily made it to the Council of Ministers headed by her visionary father, who was the then Chief Minister. But she preferred to be away from the power only to strengthen the party," said the insiders pleading anonymity.
They said some of the alternative names were recently discussed at the Muftis Fairview residence as being "most eligible for the CM Chairs."
"When it was seen beyond her (Mehbooba) taking over as CM, the only prominent option visible was him (Muzaffar Hussain Beigh)" the sources said.
Given his decade old stint as the Deputy Chief Minister, who successfully held the portfolios of Finance and Law, Beigh is being seen as the seasoned hand for the coveted responsibility where relations with the BJP have to be kept intact for stability of the Government.
Beigh who had been for some time opposing the alliance with the BJP has already pacified with the decision of the PDP leadership and since the death of Mufti, he seems to be the only credible voice from within the party as "he alone speaks with confidence."
"Otherwise, the party has often been refuting statements even the one issued by spokesman Mehboob Beg. But no one has questioned the voice of Muzaffar Beigh Sahib," said a party insider.
Since the sad demise of Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, Beigh has been a great support for the party. It was only he, who cleared the air over the imposition of Governor's rule.
While some media houses had been stating that Jammu and Kashmir would run into political crises, Beigh a legal luminary, clarified the issue saying Governor's rule would not be any crises but an "administrative arrangement" till the new Chief Minister sworn in.
But "like always", a lobby from within the party is believed to be sabotaging Beigh's further rise into the corridors of power. "In the past also, this lobby of politicians, with the help of some middle level officials had managed to create wedge between Beigh Sahib and the PDP and they are still conspiring for the same," the sources said.
Observers said Plan-B holds weight as till now the Mehbooba has herself never uttered a word over her taking over as the CM. "Her taking over as CM is merely a speculation because she has never spoken over the issue. So there's always a possibility of Plan-B," said a political analyst closely tracking the developments. |
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