The reins of Jammu & Kashmir’s governance, left behind by Mufti Mohammed Sayeed, are likely to be taken over by his daughter Mehbooba Mufti. If so, she will be the first woman Chief Minister of the state.

As Mr. Sayeed’s health deteriorated yesterday, there were murmurs of a possible change of guard. Mr. Sayeed had, himself, on several occasions hinted that he would like to hand over his reins to his daughter Mehbooba, as much credit to his electoral success is given to her. It was Mehbooba Mufti who had mobilised and organised cadre for the party, and is known as a hard bargainer. Her bargaining prowess came to the fore after the assembly elections last year threw up a hung verdict.

Mehbooba Mufti is believed to have worked hard behind the scenes in ensuring that her father is agreed upon by the BJP as Chief Minister for a complete six-year term and that the post is not on a rotational basis.

Mehbooba, who has assumed an image of a fiery leader, started her political career in 1996 by joining Congress along with her father. The 56-year-old mother of two is also president of the PDP. She won her first Assembly election as Congress candidate from her home segment of Bijbehara.
Mehbooba played a key role in her father's victory as Congress candidate in Lok Sabha elections of 1998 when Sayeed defeated NC's Mohammad Yousuf Taing from south Kashmir.

The Muftis, along with some key associates, floated their own regional party, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in 1999. In 2002 Assembly elections, PDP bagged 16 seats and Sayeed for the first time became Chief Minister with the support of Congress and some independent MLAs.

In 2004, Mehbooba contested and won her first Lok Sabha election, from south Kashmir. In 2008, she contested and was returned as MLA from Wachi segment of Shopian in south Kashmir when PDP bagged 21 seats but lost power to NC-Congress coalition. In 2014, she was yet again returned as Lok Sabha member from south Kashmir. Later in November-December Assembly elections, PDP got 28 seats and in March 2015 it formed its second government in Jammu and Kashmir, in an alliance with BJP. Mehbooba has never lost an election from South Kashmir so far.

However, Mehbooba's ascent to the post of the Chief Minister would require approval of Bharatiya Janata Party, the junior coalition partner in the state government. And, although no one from the BJP has so far opposed Mehbooba's elevation, a final decision on the issue will be taken by the party high command. In the 87-member state Assembly PDP won 28 seats and BJP 25 while opposition National Conference got 15 and Congress 12.