| These reports were flatly denied by the party's central leadership later in the evening. |
| "The question does not arise. Our MLAs may have strong views, but they will not do any such thing," party general secretary Ambika Soni said, When asked about the development. |
| State president of the party, Peerzada Mohammad Sayeed expressed ignorance about any such development. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today said a decision regarding change of guard in Jammu and Kashmir would be taken "soon". |
| "You will come to know soon", he told reporters after the swearing-in of Wajahat Habibullah as chief information commissioner by president A P J Abdul Kalam at Rashtrapati Bhavan. |
| The Congress has announced that a decision on the issue would be taken by party chief Sonia Gandhi in consultation with the Prime Minister. |
| His comments came as Gandhi continued consultations on the proposed transfer of power in Jammu and Kashmir from the ruling People's Democratic Party (PDP) to the Congress. |
| There is a strong feeling that the Congress should take the reins of power. But, Gandhi has been quoted as saying she would take a decision in the interests of Jammu, Kashmir, Ladakh and the nation. |
| The changeover was scheduled to take place on November 2. Meanwhile, reports from Jammu say the MLAs have forwarded their resignations in order allow Sonia Gandhi to decide the fate of the party. |
| Agencies quoted 'sources' as saying: 'We hope that she would definitely take a decision, which would benefit the Congress party and the nation at large. If the Congress fails to fulfill the promise made to Jammu constituency on the change of power and installation of a Jammu chief minister, we will be faced with rout in the next assembly elections,' the MLAs are reported to have said. |
| Deputy Chief Minister Mangat Ram Sharma is from Jammu and a frontrunner for the Chief ministership. |
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