Date:15/12/2002 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2002/12/15/stories/2002121503971100.htm

National

Mufti meets Sonia

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI DEC. 14. The Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister, Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, met the Congress president, Sonia Gandhi, here today to discuss among other things the issue of Cabinet expansion and the setting up of a coordination committee to oversee the functioning of the coalition government.

However, both the Congress and Mr. Sayeed were tight-lipped about what transpired at the meeting which lasted for about 40 minutes. Today's meeting was preceded by informal talks between Mr. Sayeed and the Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee president, Ghulam Nabi Azad, and other senior party leaders earlier this week soon after Mr. Sayeed arrived here on a five-day visit.

Cabinet expansion has been on the cards ever since the People's Democratic Party-Congress Government took office on November 4. At present, the Cabinet has three members each from the Congress and the PDP, besides three independents. With the Congress winning most of its seats from Jammu, it is reportedly pressing for more representation from the region in the Cabinet.

Another issue pertains to the setting up of a coordination committee to ensure the smooth running of the coalition government. Though Mr. Azad had been tipped to head the committee ever since it became clear that Mr. Sayeed would be Chief Minister, an announcement to this effect is yet to be made. Also, the two coalition partners are to decide the strength of this committee.

The two leaders reportedly discussed the nominations to the five vacancies in the Legislative Council. The two parties have been unable to see eye-to-eye on how to share the five seats, with the Congress insisting on a four-one arrangement and the PDP keen to have three. Another issue was the release of detainees by the State Government.