Noted Kashmiri Physician Allaqaband Reveals Sheikh Abdullah Once Offered CM Post to G.M. Shah

 Srinagar: In a striking and previously unreported revelation, Dr. Ghulam Qadir Allaqaband—widely regarded as a living legend in the field of medicine and a man held in deep respect by Jammu and Kashmir’s top political leadership—has claimed that Sheikh Muhammad Abdullah had, during his lifetime, offered the post of Chief Minister to his son‑in‑law, Ghulam Muhammad Shah. According to Allaqaband, Shah declined the offer with characteristic humility, insisting that he could not even imagine stepping into Sheikh Abdullah’s shoes while the towering leader was still alive.

Responding to a social‑media post by this correspondent on Shah’s 17th death anniversary, Dr. Allaqaband recounted the episode in vivid detail. “I am a witness to an occasion when Sheikh Sahib, during a period of illness, asked Shah Sahib to take over as Chief Minister,” he wrote. “But Shah Sahib categorically refused, saying it was impossible for anyone to assume that responsibility in Sheikh Sahib’s presence—even if it meant waiting a hundred years. He (Shah) meant business wherever he was the boss, whether in politics or in government.” Now residing in the United States, Allaqaband remains a witness to many pivotal moments in Kashmir’s political history, owing to the trust and regard he enjoyed among the region’s most influential figures.

Sheikh Abdullah was eventually succeeded as Chief Minister by his son, Dr. Farooq Abdullah, following his death on September 8, 1982. A year earlier, in August 1981, Farooq—then a political novice—had been appointed president of the ruling National Conference (NC) while his father, the party’s founder, continued to serve as Chief Minister. Farooq’s elevation was widely seen as part of a carefully managed succession plan. He went on to lead the party and the government for many years, serving as Chief Minister thrice, later handing over the reins of the party to his son Omar Abdullah who is currently serving as the Chief Minister a second time.

At the time of Farooq’s ‘coronation’, however, media reports and political observers across Jammu and Kashmir believed that Shah, a senior NC stalwart deeply involved in the Sheikh‑led political movement, had long been considered a potential successor. His being overlooked for the top post was widely thought to have caused resentment. Many contemporaries interpreted the events that followed as Shah’s attempt to avenge what he and his supporters perceived as an injustice.

On July 2, 1984, Shah—then a senior NC leader led a dramatic defection of party legislators. The rebellion reduced Farooq Abdullah’s government to a minority in the 78‑member Assembly. With the support of the Indian National Congress, which held 26 seats, Shah demonstrated majority backing. Governor Jagmohan subsequently dismissed Farooq Abdullah’s government and installed Shah as Chief Minister the same day.

Historical accounts frequently describe the episode as a “coup” or “political coup,” citing its coordinated nature, the alleged involvement of the central government under Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, and the fact that Farooq Abdullah was not given an opportunity to prove his majority on the Assembly floor. The event created a deep and lasting rift within the Abdullah–Shah family—Shah was married to Farooq’s sister Khalida—and is often viewed as a turning point that weakened public trust in democratic processes in Jammu and Kashmir, contributing to the political turbulence that followed. After the revolt, Shah launched his own party called Awami (People's) National Conference which has been headed by his wife since.