Srinagar: Veteran politician G M Shah, who had become Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir by toppling the government of his brother-in-law Farooq Abdullah, died here today at the age of 88.

Shah, uncle of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, had been ailing for quite sometime and was admitted to Sher-e-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences this evening, his son Muzaffar Ahmad shah told PTI.

President of Awami National Conference, Shah is survived by his wife Khalida, two sons and a daughter.

Known for his administrative and organizational skills, Shah joined National Conference founded by his father-in-law Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah, in 1944 after obtaining a law degree.

He defected from NC along with 12 party MLAs on July 2, 1984 bringing down the government of Farooq Abdullah, a move that created a bitter rift between the two families. Shah joined hands with a 26-member strong Congress legislature party and became the Chief Minister.

However, his government was dismissed on March 12, 1986, by the then Governor Jagmohan following communal riots in South Kashmir, which led to the first major exodus of Pandits from Kashmir valley.
Source : PTI