Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, who died today, had worked with various parties during his six-decade long political career. Sayeed was country's first Muslim Home Minister.<br/><br/>Sayeed started his political career in the late 1950s when he joined the Democratic National Conference (DNC). Later he held his first formal post under the membership of the DNC when he was appointed as the District Convenor of the party. <br/><br/>Sayeed was elected to Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly In 1962 from Bijbehara on DNC ticket. He also re-elected from the seat and DNC's Chief Ghulam Mohammed Sadiq appointed him as his deputy. However, a few years later, Sayeed left DNC and joined the Indian National Congress (INC). He was considered as one of the few leaders in Jammu and Kashmir who made the INC a major political force in the state, opposing the DNC.<br/><br/>Sayeed became a State Minister in the Congress government in 1972 in the state. He was also designated as the president of the Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) and the leader of the Congress Legislature Party.<br/><br/>However, his political success witnessed a steep downturn when he lost two consecutive Assembly elections.<br/><br/>Sayeed was given the portfolio of Tourism and Civil Aviation in the Union Cabinet by the then Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi in 1986. However, his association with the Congress came to an end in 1987 when he joined Jan Morcha, led by V P Singh. Subsequently, he went on to become the Union Home Minister in 1989. <br/><br/>But within few days of taking office as the Union Minister for Home Affairs, his third daughter Rubaiya was kidnapped by militants in Kashmir valley. She was released in exchange for the release of five militants despite opposition by then state government led by Dr Farooq Abdullah.<br/><br/>Born on January 12, 1936 at Baba Mohalla, Bijbehara in south Kashmir district of Anantnag after early schooling in his home town graduated and obtained a law degree from SP College in Srinagar. Later he completed his master's degree in Arab History from Aligarh Muslim University.