Politics

Cracks within the PDP: For sake of people, will change 50 parties if needed, says Imran Ansari

Says PDP has reduced to ‘Family Democratic Party’, uncle and MLA Zadibal Abid Hussain hints at creating a ‘Peoples Bloc’

Srinagar: A split within the People’s Democratic Party is imminent after two of its powerful MLAs openly rebelled against former JK Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti for converting the party into a ‘family filled with her relatives.’

Sources told Kashmir Reader that the BJP is working on another alliance with Kashmiri legislators, with Sajjad Lone ‘playing a key role in the machinations’. As per the report, the alliance will be announced after the Amarnath Yatra.

Rumors arose when BJP National General Secretary Ram Madhav met with Sajjad Lone last week. Sources have also quoted that the BJP has a new blueprint for government formation.

A South Kashmir PDP legislator, Abdul Majeed Paddar said, “It would be injustice with people if elections are announced prior to the full six-year term,” adding that the formation of the government would happen without the Congress.

On Monday, former Sports Minister and MLA from Pattan constituency, Molvi Imran Reza Ansari, said, “It is because of the interference of her (Mehbooba) relatives that the BJP withdrew the support. Peoples Democratic Party has been reduced to Family Democratic Party by Mehbooba Mufti and all the party affairs are being run by four members of her family.”

Raza Ansari’s uncle and MLA from Zadibal constituency, Abid Hussain Ansari, along with him, hinted at creating a ‘Peoples Bloc’, while bashing Mehbooba Mufti.

“It is a family Raj party. Her brother was a photographer and he was brought back and made tourism minister. A relative was made commissioner. Another relative is remote controlling from America. We are against the bloodshed. I have left my future to the people of my constituency. Whatever they decide, I will follow that. If they want me to leave PDP, I will do so,” he said.

Former minister kept the options open of joining another party. “If there is any party in which there is no family raj and is led by a brave leader, I will certainly consider joining it. For the sake of people if I need to change 50 parties I will do it”, he said.

Imran Ansari said he would have talks with ‘like-minded parties’, saying, “We are ready for the elections. There is nothing in mind (about government formation). We are ready to face people. We do not want to keep people in dark. I am not a paratrooper in the party. I am a people’s man.”

“What will we do in the party? Few people have hijacked the party. Though I was a minister, I have been conveying to them that we feel choked,” he added. While speaking about the BJP, he said BJP ‘whole-heartedly’ supported Kashmir and that a group amongst the PDP had tried to create ‘a devil out of the BJP’.

“On one side they were sharing power with BJP and on the other side, they were abusing them. Whatever development has taken place in Kashmir it is because of BJP,” he stated.

In response to the uncle and son’s remarks, senior PDP leader and former Works Minister Naeem Akhtar said, “We do not want to enter into a slanging match with him (Imran). They had two MLAs in the family. He (Imran) had four most important portfolios and what did he do to them? Let him do that (hobnobbing with like minded people). No issues.”

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