Srinagar, Jul 08: Pushed to the backfoot in the face of open rebellion by some party legislators, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chief and former chief minister, Mehbooba Mufti today met a number of party legislators and briefed them about her recent visit to Delhi.
Though there was no clarity about the number of party MLA’s who attended the meeting which came in the wake of the growing rebellion within PDP, sources said that the meeting was conducted immediately after Mehbooba returned to Kashmir after her Delhi visit. The party chief, sources said, briefed the legislators about her Delhi visit and discussed the crisis in the party.
At least six PDP leaders have openly revolted against Mehbooba and accused her of corruption, nepotism and family rule. Former minister Imran Raza Ansari, one of the first to openly revolt against the party, was quoted by news agencies as saying that there was no question of going back on his stand on the former chief minister’s leadership. “We have come out in public not for any concessions or personal gains. Our aim is to address the leadership problem,” Ansari was quoted by PTI as saying.
After the BJP pulled out from the coalition government and Governor’s rule was imposed in the state last month, the party leadership faced rebellion from at least five MLAs and an MLC.
Abid Ansari, who represents Srinagar’s Zadibal constituency, was the first one to question Mufti’s leadership. He was followed by his nephew and former minister Imran Ansari, MLA Tangmarg Abbas Wani, MLA Noorabad Abdul Majid Paddar, MLA Baramulla Javaid Beigh and MLC Yasir Reshi.
The legislators accused the PDP president of nepotism and incompetence during her tenure as the chief minister. (With PTI inputs)
