The swearing-in of 16 first-time legislators in the Jammu and Kashmir Cabinet was not only the coming together for ‘compulsions of power’ of people across ideological divides but also a gathering of several lives and careers cut short to join politics.
From an RSS ideologue history professor to a Kashmiri businessman called the King of fertilizers, from a former separatist leader to a former editor of a national daily, Mufti Mohammad Sayeed’s Cabinet is an interesting mix. Here is a list of first-time legislators who became Ministers.
Nirmal Singh: Unanimously elected as Deputy Chief Minister, Nirmal Singh (58) is a first-time legislator from Billawar in Jammu’s Kathua district. He joined politics in his student days at the Jammu University, and after contesting Parliamentary and Legislative elections for over 25 years, he finally tasted victory this time. Mr. Singh has a Ph.D. in History from Jammu University in 1988 and was serving as a professor of history in the university.
Altaf Bukhari: Famous in Kashmir for his agriculture and fertilizer buisiness, 59-year-old Bukhari is a first-time legislator from Amira Kadal. Almost three decades ago, he set up the FIL industries, which is currently one of the biggest industries in Kashmir's Horticulture business. Mr. Bukhari, who hold a bachelors degree in Agriculture Sciences, is an old and trusted associate of Mufti Sayeed, and, according to sources, played a key role at Mufti’s behest in the 1984 toppling of the Farooq Abdullah government and causing a split in the National Conference.
Haseeb Drabu: PDP’s representative for talks with the BJP over the alliance, Haseeb Drabu seems to be enjoying full confidence of Mufti Sayeed and sources say he is at present one of Mufti’s most trusted lieutenants, if not the most trusted. With a Masters degree in Economics and has a doctorate in Economics from Jawaharlal Nehru University, Mr. Drabu earlier served as an Economic Adviser (Minister of State Status) with Jammu & Kashmir government in 2003 when PDP formed government with the Congress.
Mr. Drabu had stints in the Planning Commission, Finance Commission and the Economic Advisory Council of the Prime Minister. He served as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Jammu and Kashmir Bank for five years and was a well known journalist as he served as the National Editor of Business Standard newspaper.
Sajad Lone: Sajad Lone too is a first-time legislator from north Kashmir's Handawara and cabinet minister, and the Mufti called his entrance into the elected government a “breakthrough”. Mr. Lone formerly held a separatist position but was generally not accepted by a faction of the separatist leadership who accused him of being in loop with the state apparatus and also fighting the elections through proxy.
The 49-year-old leader was the only Kashmiri politician who openly allied with BJP before the elections invited criticism from both separatist and mainstream camps after he called Prime Minister Narendra Modi “an elder brother” after the two met in New Delhi.
Youngest son of slain Peoples Conference founder, Abdul Gani Lone, Sajjad has an economics degree from Cardiff University in London.
Imran Ansari: Imran Ansari is a first-time legislator from north Kashmir's Pattan area. Ansari, son of prominent Shia leader and former minister, Ifthikar Hussain Ansari, who died in September last year, contested and won from his late father's stronghold.
Mr. Ansari (42) has a Masters degree in Political Science and has received his religious education in Damascus in Syria and Ghom in Iran.
