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1st LD Writethru: Mehbooba Mufti sworn in as Indian-controlled Kashmir's first woman chief minister

Xinhua, April 4, 2016 Adjust font size:

Mehbooba Mufti was Monday sworn in as the first woman chief minister of Indian-controlled Kashmir, the country's only Muslim majority state.

The 56-year-old, who succeeded her father Mufti Mohammad Saeed who died in January this year, was administered the oath of office by the governor of the state, along with 23 other cabinet ministers.

Mufti of the regional People's Democratic Party (PDP) will head a coalition government which also includes India's ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

In fact she had delayed the formation of the state government for three months after her father's demise as she apparently attempted to renegotiate the terms of her party's partnership with the BJP.

However, the BJP did not bend to any pressure tactic and Mufti's last week meeting with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi finally paved the way for the formation of the state government again.

Moreover, there was also pressure on her from within her own party to form the state government with the BJP, party sources said.

Mufti's arch rival Omar Abdullah, a former chief minister of the state, has said that she would face "more alliance contradictions" in the partnership with the BJP, an ideological opposite party. Endit