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SRINAGAR: Many PDP leaders are dissatisfied with the operations of the organisation, prompting their departures.
The departures occurred after the announcement of the PDP’s list of constituency coordinators, which triggered unrest among several members.
The organisation on Tuesday released an additional list of constituency coordinators in J&K. Abdul Gaffar Sofi is the coordinator for Anantnag West, Dr Shabir Siddiqui for Pahalgam, Sheikh Nasir Hussain for Inderwal, Sadesh Mahajan for Padder Nagseni, and Gulzar Ahmad Dar for DH Pora.
PDP representative Suhail Bukhari, who had been a trusted advisor to organisation leader Mehbooba Mufti, stepped down after being refused a nomination to contest from the Wagoora-Kreeri constituency. Bukhari was reportedly disheartened by the organisation’s choice to support former Minister Basharat Bukhari instead, who recently returned to the PDP.
Addressing the press, Bukhari said that under such conditions, it had become “untenable” for him to stay in the organisation.
“For the past few days, we have been observing that those who stood by the organisation during difficult times were being marginalised, their sacrifices ignored, and their contributions unappreciated. People who left the organisation during trying times are now being welcomed back, while those who remained are being overlooked.”
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He stressed that those who remained dedicated to the organisation during challenging periods and laboured hard are not being included in decision-making, which he finds “demoralizing.”
Bukhari remarked that the organisation was no longer what it used to be when he, along with others, joined, stating, “The organisation is straying from the values for which we became members. I was feeling uncomfortable staying.” He is likely to switch to the Awami Itehad Party (AIP).
Dr. Harbaksh Singh, a veteran PDP leader and District Development Council (DDC) representative from Tral, resigned and declared his intent to join the AIP.
Along with other disillusioned PDP members, including former MLA Ajaz Mir and over 10 DDC representatives have also exited the organisation. Mir is in discussions with the Congress organisation and AIP.
Meanwhile, former Minister Abdul Haq Khan returned to the PDP today after two years. He had distanced himself from the PDP after the administration collapsed in 2018.
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Khan rejoined the PDP in the presence of organisation leader Mehbooba Mufti, who visited his home due to his ill health.
Khan was elected to the former Legislative Assembly of Jammu and Kashmir from Kupwara district’s Lolab constituency twice in 2008 and 2014.
Choudhary Haroon Khatana, a notable tribal figure from Kokernag in Anantnag district, has resigned from the Democratic Progressive Azad Organisation (DPAP) and is likely to join the PDP.
The Kokernag Assembly segment, now reserved for Scheduled Tribes following recent redistricting, could see Khatana’s official transition to the PDP in the coming days. Previously, Khatana was associated with the National Organisation before moving to the DPAP.
Zafar Iqbal Manhas, a senior leader of the Apni Party and his son have resigned from the organisation and are likely to join the Congress party. Manhas said that the next move will depend on input from his supporters.
According to insiders, several DPAP members including two former representatives from South Kashmir are likely to exit the organisation and rejoin Congress.
