But as observers point out, that's where the similarity ends. If Omar's political career begins and ends with his father, it's Mehbooba who is right now pulling her father out of doldrums.

``Omar Abdullah has no personnel base,'' says political columnist Tahir Mohideen. ``He is there because of his father, and his fate entirely depends upon the traditional National Conference (NC) vote bank.'' On the other hand, he adds, ``Mehbooba had been the force behind her father's victory during the last Lok Sabha polls. Mufti himself does not enjoy good rapport in Kashmir and is always viewed to be New Delhi's man here.''

NC general secretary Sheikh Nazir Ahmad, of course, denies that the partyis carrying forward the Sheikh family rule, calling the charge a ``propaganda'' unleashed by those who had always been rejected by Kashmiris. ``They are exposed and nobody is going to believe their pro-Kashmir rhetoric now,'' he asserts, in an obvious pointer to the fact that Mufti has suffered humiliating defeats even in his home constituency.

But Mufti is making a comeback now, and largely due to his daughter. Mehbooba, therefore, scoffs at any comparison with Omar. ``My father is no Sultan of Kashmir, he has always been in a struggle against the misrule of the Sheikh family. I am not heir to any throne,'' she says. ``What is Omar's locus standi?'' she adds. ``He is just his father's son or grandfather's grandson. Despite a stint in the Lok Sabha, he is politically still a non-entity.''

Mehbooba insists Omar is not even her main rival during the polls. ``My main opponent is the official machinery of the Farooq Abdullah government,'' she says. ``The NC is not only using the entire government machinerybut also surrendered militants. These surrendered militants are even campaigning for poll boycott in our strongholds.'' Omar was not available for a response to this.

As for the common people, the dynastic drama leaves them cold. Says Mohammad Sadiq, a milkman in Srinagar: ``For me, there is hardly any difference between Farooq and Mufti, both are doing their level best to see that their children are prosperous. I spent my whole life educating my son. He did post-graduation only to sell milk as there are no jobs for the poor and people without influence in the corridors of power.'' Whether Omar or Mehbooba, he concludes, ``there will be no change in the system''.