Hyder Ali
Early Times Report
srinagar, Feb 26: At a time when the PDP is struggling to evolve consensus over Government formation in the State which is under Governor's rule since January 9, the party president Mehbooba Mufti has been listed among the "100 most powerful persons in India."
According to the list of "The Most Powerful Indians in 2016", released today by a New Delhi-based media house, Mehbooba figures at serial number 14 in the national arena, taking a big leap over stalwarts like former Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad who falls at number 28. As of now, Mehbooba, is being described by her fans as "numero uno" among the female mainstream leaders in J&K.
Mehbooba, who refused to take oath as Chief Minister of the State after the demise of her father on January 7, had put the party leadership in dilemma over relations with the rightwing Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP). The "make it" or "break it", remains a suspense.
While some of the leaders supported her "second thought" over continuance of alliance with the BJP, others had been skeptical of her decision pleading that snapping ties midway with the party in power in the Centre could prove suicidal.
Sources said over the past around a month, some of the party leaders were unhappy with the suspense over fate of the alliance in general, and PDP in particular, while some had even taken a "leave from the party activities."
But her name figuring in the list of most powerful in the national arena has put her at "numero uno" among the mainstream women leaders in the State.
The news instantly went viral on the social networks with many celebrating the development. The net-savvy youth wing of the PDP seemed to be riding cloud nine.
"For her conviction, passion & compassion she leaves many stalwarts in politics behind to be in the list of most powerful people in India today. That is the reason we have always maintained power for her is not a priority to be powerful. #?Mehbooba Mufti symbolises the power of people," PDP Youth leader Waheed Ur Rehman Ur Parra posted on his Facebook page.
For Arif Laigaroo, a budding PDP leader from south Srinagar, it was time to say "We are proud of our leader, the one and only Mehbooba, whose power lies in public support." Similar were the views expressed by other youth leaders including Muddasir Amin and Tahir Syed.
Leave apart PDP leaders, even the young celebrities like RJ Nasir were excited. "Climbing up the ladder in coming years," Sardar Nasir Ali Khan posted on his wall.
Sheikh Ashiq, a prominent businessman and social activist expressed concern over the development. "She should show power in way that she doesn't need to compromise on power," he commented on social media. "Now she must address concerns of people of Kashmir," added Ashiq who holds influence in the political circles of Kashmir.
But the senior PDP leaders like Naeem Akhter, who are otherwise known for keeping eagles-eye on the social networks, remained conspicuous for commenting nothing over the development till this report was filed.
According to the list of "The Most Powerful Indians in 2016" released by Indian Express, Mehbooba Mufti figures at serial number 14 ahead of West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and Rajasthan Chief Minister, Vasundhara Raje, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister, N Chandra Babu Naidu, BSP chief Mayawati and Priyanka Gandhi.
According to the survey, Mehbooba has played a pivotal role in shaping PDP which emerged as the single largest party in Jammu and Kashmir in 2014 elections. "After the death of her father Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, she didn't rush to take oath as the first woman Chief Minister of J&K despite pulls and pressures from various quarters. She is playing hardball and trying to bargain with the top BJP leadership and the Government of India for a deal which benefits her State in the long run," it states.
The survey goes on to add that despite forming an alliance with BJP, Mehbooba openly advocates talks with Kashmir separatists and Pakistan.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi figures at serial number 1 of the list while Congress President Sonia Gandhi figures at No: 5. Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal figures at serial number 8 while Congress Vice-President Rahul Gandhi figures at serial number 9. Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, Ghulam Nabi Azad figures at serial number 28.
The other eminent personalities in the list include President, Parnab Mukherjee, RBI Governor Raghuram Rajan, Reliance Industries chairman, Mukesh Ambani, Tata Group chairman, Cyrus P Mistry, Mahindra & Mahindra chairman, Anand Mahindra, AIMIM chief Assad-ud-Din Owaisi, Bharti Enterprises chairman, Sunil Bharti Mittal, HDFC chairman, Deepak Parekh and actor, Aamir Khan.
But the National Conference contests Mehbooba's "political postures" pleading that if she is to be considered "right and iron willed" then her father and PDP founder Mufti Muhammad Sayeed was "wrong and speaking lies" for tying knot with BJP. |
