Javed Mustafa Mir, former Minister in the Mehbooba Mufti’s Cabinet, quit the Peoples Democratic Party on Sunday and was mulling the option of joining the Congress.
The three-time MLA from central Kashmir’s Chadoora said he has put forth his resignation before Ms. Mufti. He refused to divulge the reasons for exiting the party, saying the resignation was his “personal decision”.
“It is my personal decision,” said Mr. Mir, who served as Revenue Minister in the PDP-BJP government but was later dropped by Ms. Mufti from her Council of Minister in 2016.
Sources said Mr. Mir wass mulling the option of joining the Congress.
He became the fourth former PDP Minister to quit the party since the PDP-BJP government fell apart in June last year.
Earlier, former Finance Minister Haseeb Drabu, former Law Minister Basharat Bukhari and former Information Technology Minister Imran Ansari had resigned from the party after expressing dissatisfaction with the leadership.
Meanwhile, another PDP leader Abbas Wani, who represented the party from Tangmarg constituency, joined Sajad Lone’s People’s Conference. Three MLAs from the PDP have joined Mr. Lone’s party so far. Two PDP MLCs also resigned from the party.
At least 10 prominent faces have left the party, denting the PDP’s prospects in the coming Assembly polls.
Meanwhile, the PDP on Sunday asked National Conference president Farooq Abdullah to clear his position on the Ram Mandir and Article 35-A.
