Cong distances from PDP's move against Beigh

NEW DELHI: Congress on Friday sought to wash its hands off the controversy arising out of the demand for the sacking of Jammu and Kashmir Deputy Chief Minister Muzaffar Hussain Beigh by PDP and made it clear that the coalition's nomination of a new deputy CM would be accepted.

The Congress said the development would not affect the stability of the Kashmir government led by Ghulam Nabi Azad.

"It is an internal matter of the PDP. We do not interfere in it. It does not affect the stability of the coalition government," Union Minister Ambika Soni said from Pune.

Soni, who is also in-charge of party affairs in Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh, said PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti has written a letter to the Chief Minister, informing him that Beigh was no longer the leader of the PDP legislature party.

Azad had spoken to Soni and apprised her of the developments. An alternative party leader chosen by PDP would take over and till that time, the post would remain with the chief minister, she said.

Asked whether the PDP's action would affect the cohesiveness of the coalition, she said, "It is a matter for the PDP to respond. The Congress will not say in this matter." 

On a day of surprise political developments on Thursday, the PDP first sought the shifting of Beigh from the key portfolios of finance and law. The Chief Minister refused to do so.

An upset PDP led by Azad's predecessor Mufti Mohammed Sayeed summoned a legislature party meeting, which adopted a resolution removing Beigh from the leadership of the legislature party. The PDP also demanded Beigh's ouster from the cabinet.