Putting all speculations of change of guard in PDP-BJP government to rest, the BJP’s National Vice President and close confident of the Prime Minister Narendra Modi Saturday categorically said that there will be no change of guard in the Jammu and Kashmir and that Chief Minister Mufti Muhammad Sayeed is also not handing over the baton to his daughter Mehbooba Mufti.“There is no truth in the rumors that change of guard in Jammu and Kashmir is on the cards. Coalition government is running smoothly,” Avinash Rai Khanna who is also BJP’s Chief whip in the Raj Sabaha told KNS over phone from New Delhi.He also revealed that neither the Chief Minister Mufti Mohmmad Syeed, nor the BJP high command has communicated in this regard. “No such meeting or communication has taken place between the Chief Minister Mufti Mohmmad Syeed and the BJP high command. People should not believe any such rumors,” the BJP leader said while categorically denying rumors and speculation about the matter.
Denials apart, some of the local newspapers had carried front page news about the speculation of change of guard in the state. Khana further said that the government will run its full term and as of now BJP high command has no plans to change the guard.Interestingly Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed on Friday had hinted at handing over power to his 56-year-old daughter Mehbooba Mufti. “Mehbooba is mature enough to handle responsibilities. Mufti has said in Jammu while addressing a press conference.It is also pertinent to mention here that political and public circles were agog with rumors for the last many days about the issue, with social media posts adding fuel to the speculation that the chief minister was thinking of handing over the reins to his daughter.A question everybody began asking in both Srinagar and Jammu was whether the transition would happen or not. (KNS)