Fearing split, PDP wants Mufti to remain

Mufti’s likely replacement, Union Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad, is also keeping a diplomatic silence but his increased interest in the State indicates he too is readying himself for the top job.

The PDP is putting forth the ‘‘change in situation’’ and ‘‘Mufti’s role to create conducive atmosphere for a peace process with separatists and Indo-Pak thaw’’ as their logic against change of guard. Sources reveal that a group of ‘‘influential political leaders and think tanks’’ in New Delhi have already started convincing the Congress-led UPA to allow Mufti to continue.

The PDP is anticipating serious problems within the party once they hand over the chief ministership. There is every likelihood of a split in the party on the issue of deputy chief ministership with two major contenders —Finance Minister Muzaffar Hussain Beg and Tourism and Urban Development minister Ghulam Hassan Mir.

Sources reveal that strong Mufti loyalists would prefer Mehbooba, who’s not very keen, to take the No 2 position in the government. As both Mir and Beg are seen as separate power centres within the PDP, there was also talk to field a third leader like Agriculture Minister Abdul Aziz Zargar.

But no matter who PDP chooses as its candidate for deputy chief ministership, it will certainly give birth to a strong rebel group within the party.

The distribution of ministries will be a major issue. If the Congress high command decides to let Mufti continue, the party will certainly seek more representation in the Cabinet. This will mean the PDP will have to drop some of its leaders from the Cabinet.

The PCC here, however, is adamant that the rotation should happen as per the agreement. The state Congress thinks that if Mufti is allowed to continue, it will dishearten the cadre and destroy the party, especially in Jammu where the BJP will take advantage of this disenchantment.

The Congress has its internal problems as well. For the J-K Congress, Azad is the consensus choice. In fact, the PDP too is anticipating Azad as a major contender and has raised the bogey of a ‘‘Jammu candidate’’ because he belongs to Doda. The aim is to generate a reaction in the Valley by creating an imaginary regional division between Valley and the Muslim-dominated Doda. Though Doda falls in Jammu province its Muslim population has close linguistic and cultural proximity with the Valley.

Sources say Azad is yet to make up his mind and is still assessing the ramifications of the shift from the national scene to the State on his political career. It certainly is the biggest gamble of his political career especially as he has emerged as the lone J-K Muslim politician of the Congress at the national level.

There are still three more contenders for the CM’s post — former Bihar Governor Shafi Qureshi, J-K PCC chief and Rural Development Minister Peerzada Mohamamd Sayeed and Saif-ud-Din Soz. The first two are weak contenders and though Soz is close to the Congress leadership at the Centre, it will be very difficult for the high command to favour the former National Conference leader for the top post in J-K.

And in case the Congress decides to take over without disturbing the coalition with PDP, there still remains another major problem. The party has to deal with the rehabilitation of senior Jammu leader and Deputy Chief Minister Mangat Ram Sharma.

The PDP apprehension that both Centre-Hurriyat and Indo-Pak peace process will be affected in case Congress takes over is, however, seen as a genuine concern. Unlike the previous NC government, Mufti did not oppose the Centre’s efforts to initiate talks with the Hurriyat. Mufti did play an important role in creating an atmosphere inside Kashmir that helped the Indo-Pak thaw. And in case there is a change of guard, the Congress itself and not their chief ministerial candidate will be a liability for the peace process.