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J&K: Congress' 30-year wait nears end
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October 28, 2005 13:36 IST

The Congress will take over the reins of the administration in Jammu and Kashmir [Images] after a gap of about 30 years.

Syed Mir Qasim was the last Congress Chief Minister from December 1971 to February 24, 1975, when he resigned to facilitate power transfer to National Conference leader Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah following the Indira-Sheikh accord of November 13, 1975.

 'I will strengthen peace process'

However, in less than two years the Congress withdrew support to the Sheikh government on March 25, 1977.

The next day, the assembly was dissolved and Governor's rule was proclaimed in the state for the first time.

NC contested the sixth assembly elections in June 1983 in alliance with the Congress. The NC and the Congress secured 46 and 26 seats respectively.

However, the Farooq Abdullah-led government was dismissed on July two, 1984 and his brother-in-law G M Shah was sworn-in as the new chief minister with support from the Congress.

 We are happy: Mehbooba Mufti

On March six, 1986, the Congress withdrew support to the G M Shah government while the assembly was kept under suspended animation and the Governor's rule imposed once again in the state.

The state was later placed under President's rule in September the same year for the first time after expiry of the six-month-long Governor's rule.

However, two months later on November seven, 1986, President's rule was revoked after the Rajiv-Farooq accord, paving way for the NC-Congress alliance to take over the reins of administration.

 Azad as CM brings cheer to Cong

In the March 1987 polls, the NC-Congress alliance returned to power. The NC bagged 39 seats while the Congress won 24 seats in the mid-term poll. On March 26 same year, a coalition ministry headed by Farooq Abdullah was sworn-in.

But in January 1990, the re-appointment of Jagmohan as the Governor of the state prompted a protest resignation from Abdullah. The result -- Once again the state was placed under Governor's Rule.

On February 19, 1990, Jagmohan dissolved the state Assembly.

After the 2002 assembly elections threw up a hung House, the Congress entered into a post-poll alliance with the Peoples Democratic Party.

A power-sharing agreement was reached between the two parties under which each party would rule the state for three years.

Hence, Mufti Mohammad Sayeed was sworn in as the chief minister. His term ends on November two.

And when Union Urban Development and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad will be sworn-in as the next chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir on November two, the Congress will regain power in the state after about 30 years.



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