(Image source from: Jammu and Kashmir CM Mufti Mohammad Sayeed passes away})

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed (79) passed away on Thursday morning in New Delhi due to multiple organ failure following a week long hospitalization. An AIIMS official said that, "He died due to multi-organ failure at 9:10 this morning despite our best attempts to resuscitate him."

Mr. Sayeed was under treatment at the hospital since 24 December 2015. He was detected with sepsis, pneumonia and decreased blood counts, when he was hospitalized.Since the beginning of the week, he was on ventilator support.

A two time Chief Minister of J&K began second tenure on 1 March 2015 in alliance with the BJP. Earlier, he led the state government between 2002 and 2005. Mr. Sayeed founded the Jammu and Kashmir People's Democratic Party (JKPDP) in 1999 to persuade "the Indian government into an unconditional dialogue with the Kashmiri people."

Till 1987 Mr Sayeed was a Congressman. He served as minister for tourism in the Rajiv Gandhi government in 1986. He then joined former Prime Minister V P Singh's National Front government as India's home minister.

Mebooba Mufti, daughter of Mr Sayeed, is considered as his political heir. There is a talk of her succeeding to the position of Jammu and Kashmir CM.

"Mufti Sahab provided a healing touch to J&K through his leadership. He will be missed by all of us. Condolences to his family & supporters," PM said in a tweet.

"What stood out about Mufti Sahab was his statesmanship. In his long political journey he won many admirers across the political spectrum," Modi said

-Sumana