Former J&K chief minister Farooq Abdullah greets new guv Satya Pal Malik at Srinagar airport

In a separate development, Farooq Abdullah created ripples in political circles when he arrived at the Srinagar airport to receive the new incoming governor, Satya Pal Malik.

Farooq, who is the Member of Parliament from Srinagar Constituency, was the only political leader among the host of bureaucrats, senior officers from police, and civil administration who had converged at the airport to receive Malik. He will be taking the oath of office on Thursday at Raj Bhawan.

"J&K Governor-designate Satya Pal Malik arrived here from Patna this afternoon in a special plane. He will assume the office as the 13th Governor of Jammu and Kashmir after formal swearing in ceremony here tomorrow (Thursday)," said an official spokesman.