New Delhi, January 2
There will be no rotation of the chief ministership between coalition partners, the National Conference (NC) and the Congress, in Jammu and Kashmir.
Meeting here to finalise the contours of cooperation in the state, NC and Congress leaders agreed for Omar Abdullah as head of the government for the full term of six years. The decision is rooted in Congress’ past experience of sharing the post with former ally, the PDP, which eventually brought down the government in the state. It came from none other than Congress president Sonia Gandhi, who will attend the January 5 swearing-in ceremony of the 25-member state cabinet at Jammu. Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi is also expected to go.
Chief Minister-designate Omar Abdullah said the coalition partners had decided against rotation. He thanked Sonia Gandhi for understanding the inherent troubles of having a rotational arrangement for CM’s post in the state.
“Such an arrangement has harmed the state’s interests in the past by creating confusion,” he said, adding that the deputy chief minister of the state would be from the Congress.
The NC has, however, clarified that the selection of the deputy CM was Congress’ internal matter. “But I hope he takes oath with me on January 5,” Omar today said, adding that the division of portfolios was yet to be finalised.
But three ministers from each side are expected to take oath on Monday. While home and finance is likely to be with the NC, the Congress is expected to get the PWD and rural development to begin with.
Now about the deputy CM — with most of the senior Congressmen from Jammu (including former deputy CM Mangat Ram Sharma) suffering humiliating defeats in the recent elections, selection of a candidate is proving a challenge of sorts for the Congress, which seems to prefer a non-Muslim for the job.
