Ministry has been formed in Jammu and Kashmir with Mehbooba Mufti as the chief minister. And the coalition partner BJP, which was clamouring for more, too getting more berth thus both happy to resume the second phase of governance. During the three months interval, the emergence of internal unrest in PDP saw three old timers –Hamid Karra, Altaf Bhukari and Muzaffar Hussain Baig — out of the favourite category. The three during Mufti Mohammad Sayeed’s time wielded clout and had a say in the working of the party. Even when the news of government formation started floating Karra was seen close to Mehbooba and speculations were ripe that he will find berth in the ministry after quitting his Member of Parliament post. But when the ministry was announced the three failed to find their names in the first list. Now with Mehbooba taking control of the party affairs things are going to change on the surface and inside the party. There is already a trust deficit which she has inherited after the delay in government formation, Jammu and Kashmir both regions never in consonance, many promises made yet to be fulfilled. The biggest challenge is that she has to take people along and fill the divide about meeting of North Pole and South Pole. There should be transparency in the government. The challenge right now is the state of affairs, proving things and the gap that she has to fulfill. So Mehbooba has to fight on all fronts to keep the State intact. Of course militancy is not dead the first encounter is on in Kupwara on the second day of the new ministry. Assuaging sentiments of people, political factions, taking care of regional imbalances and to provide a accountable governance which takes development to a higher level would be a challenge for the first woman chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir.
