Mufti takes Azad, Tarigami with him to stake claim

Jammu and Kashmir Governor Girish Chandra Saxena today formally invited Mufti Mohammad Sayeed to form the government in Jammu and Kashmir. Armed with support letters from MLAs, the People’s Democratic Party chief drove to Raj Bhawan this evening and staked claim to form the government.

Congress Party’s Ghulam Nabi Azad, Panthers Party leader Bhim Singh and CPI (M) state secretary Mohammad Yousuf Tarigami accompanied Sayeed and handed over their letters of support to Saxena. ‘‘I have seen all the supporting papers. I am satisfied that they are in a comfortable majority. There are letters from more than 50 legislators. It is my pleasure to invite Mufti Sayeed to form the government. He will be sworn in as chief minister of J&K on November 2,’’ Saxena said.

Sayeed later described his alliance as a ‘‘pragmatic’’ one. ‘‘I don’t belong to any one party. I have to carry the entire team along. Expectations are high, so we will try and fulfil promises made to the people,’’ Sayeed said. ‘‘But people should realise that we do not have a magic wand.’’

Ghulam Nabi Azad also dismissed fears that there would be fresh haggling over the formation of the cabinet. ‘‘We have already said we will support the chief minister to the hilt. Who gets what post is immaterial,’’ he said.