Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti took oath as a member of the state legislature on Thursday. She was elected to the state Assembly from the Anantnag seat after she won the recent bypolls by a margin of 12,000 votes. Speaker Kavinder Gupta administered the oath of office.

Among those present on the occasion were Deputy Speaker Nazir Gurezi, Minister for Law Abdul Haq Khan, Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Abdul Rehman Veeri and Peoples Democratic Party General Secretary Mohammad Sartaj Madni.

This is the fourth time that Mufti has been was elected to the state Assembly from Anantnag district. The bypoll, which was held on June 22, recorded a 33% voter turnout. The seat has been vacant since the death of former Chief Minister and Mufti's father Mufti Muhammad Sayeed on January 7.

All chief ministers need to be members of the state legislature within six months of being sworn in, April 4 in Mufti's case.