ENI Bureau
Jammu: BJP leader Nirmal Singh created history here on Sunday becoming the first leader ever from BJP to take oath as a minister in J&K government. Singh took oath as the Deputy CM at the General Zorawar Singh Auditorium of Jammu University. PDP’s Mufti Mohammad Sayeed took oath as the 12th Chief Minister of the state.
The swearing-in ceremony of an equal number of ministers – 12 from BJP and PDP – was a watershed moment marking a change in political equations in the only Muslim dominated state of India. The alliance bolstered the saffron’s party’s claims of not being untouchable to a Muslim party
Nirmal Singh had won from Billawar in Kathua district in the assembly elections that took place last year by defeating Congress’ Manohar Lal Sharma by a 17,975 votes. A Ph.D in History from Jammu University in 1988, Singh is a professor of history in Jammu University.
BJP has inducted Sajad Gani Lone, separatist turned politician, who formed his own party and BJP rebel Pawan Gupta into the cabinet is being seen as a smart move on its part signaling at long-time stability and sending across a message of peace process in the state.