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In a meeting which some political observers interpret as a ‘prelude to a possible realignment of forces in the state’, Congress chief Sonia Gandhi visited the residence of People’s Democratic Party president Mehbooba Mufti in Srinagar to offer condolences on the demise of her father and former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed.
Accompanied by Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad and senior Congress leader Ambika Soni, Gandhi drove straight to Mehbooba’s Gupkar residence from the airport.
Paying rich tributes to Sayeed, the Congress president his said was a huge loss for the country. She also met other members of Sayeed’s family, including his wife, and expressed solidarity and support in the hour of grief.
Later, Union minister Nitin Gadkari also visited Mehbooba's residence to condole the death of the former chief minister. He said the entire country stood in solidarity with the bereaved family.
Though, the PDP sources say that the party will continue its alliance with the Bharatiya Janata Party, there may be some major changes in portfolios.
Some observers speculate that Mehbooba may not like to have a BJP deputy chief minister in the new cabinet.
Speculations are rife that Mehbooba is setting some preconditions before agreeing to form the new government.
Mehbooba has called a meeting of PDP legislators on Sunday evening, according to sources.
The government formation which was earlier stated to take effect after the four-day mourning period is now likely to take more time as the two coalition partners have to sort out issues that have come up after Sayeed’s demise, the sources said.
On Sunday, the last day of the mourning period, senior party leaders and a large number of people paid tributes to the late chief minister at his hometown Bejibehara where he was laid to rest on Thursday.
A tearful Mehbooba also visited Bejibehara on Sunday morning.