Mehbooba Mufti all set to become Indian-controlled Kashmir Chief Minister

Mehbooba Mufti is all set to become the first woman chief minister of restive Indian-controlled Kashmir with Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) lawmakers unanimously nominating her as the chief ministerial candidate.

The decision to elect Mufti was taken during an hour-long meeting on Thursday at her residence in Srinagar city, the summer capital of Indian-controlled Kashmir.

"The meeting was attended by all the 27 party lawmakers of region besides some important leaders of the party including the two legislators that represent PDP in Indian parliament," a PDP official said. "All the leaders have pledged to support Mufti and nominated her as the chief ministerial candidate."

Following her nomination, Mufti thanked party legislators for their support.

"I thank my party members for reposing faith in me and electing me as the leader," Mufti told the meeting soon after her elevation. "You (Party) had empowered me to take decision (on Government formation) on behalf of the party. I thank everyone for supporting me."

The 56-year-old Mufti delayed to take over reins of the region following demise of her father and former Chief Minister Mufti Muhammad Sayeed on January 7.

She demanded federal government announce confidence building measures (CBMs) as a guarantee for her to lead the alliance with Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

Though federal government has not announced any such steps, Mufti, after several rounds of talks with BJP, met Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday and described the meeting "positive," sending signals to end political stalemate.

Meanwhile, BJP legislators are scheduled to meet in Jammu city later in the day to take a call on the government formation.

BJP National General Secretary Ram Madhav and a junior minister in Prime Minister's Office, Jitendra Singh, are expected to attend the meeting.

"BJP never made any extra demand and the agenda of alliance, which was formed, is still the same," Singh told media.

Reports said the region's Governor N N Vohra will also hold separate meetings with the leaders of PDP and BJP on Friday to seek their formal viewpoint on the government formation.

A separatist movement and guerilla war challenging New Delhi's rule are going on in Indian-controlled Kashmir since 1989.

Kashmir, the Himalayan region divided between India and Pakistan, is claimed by both in full. Since their independence from Britain, the two countries have fought three wars, two exclusively over Kashmir. Endit