Srinagar, Mar 15: A prominent businessman from Tangmarg area of north Kashmir’s Baramulla district, Shabir Ahmad Mir who was until recently associated with the National Conference (NC) joined the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Friday.
Mir parted ways with the NC after a former bureaucrat from Tangmarg area Farooq Ahmad Shah joined the party. Even though Shah has not been promised party ticket for the Assembly polls by NC as yet, but his entry into the party obviously diminished the chances of Mir getting to contest as NC candidate, which is believed as being the reason for his joining PDP.
Earlier also Mir had been affiliated with PDP, but he left just before the 2014 Assembly elections when PDP gave ticket to Mohammad Abbass Wani, who subsequently went on to win the Gulmarg Assembly seat. Wani has now joined Peoples Conference.
Mir had unsuccessfully contested the 2014 elections as an independent candidate.
Today, Mir joined the PDP in presence of its president Mehbooba Mufti at her Fairview residence in Gupkar, Srinagar.
Addressing the gathering on the occasion, Mehbooba said Mir would be the party’s candidate for Gulmarg constituency in upcoming Assembly elections.
A party spokesperson said hundreds of supporters of Mir also joined the party along with him.
Speaking on the occasion, Mir described PDP as the “only credible platform to execute his plans of public welfare”.
Apart from Mir, Abdul Hameed, another known political activist from Tangmarg also joined the party.
In her address, Mehbooba Mufi underlined that “people understand and value the decisions taken and sacrifices rendered by the party in order protect the identity and rights of the people of the state.
“Recent developments within and outside the state as well as at the borders have made people to realize and appreciate the vision behind Mufti Muhammad Sayeed Sahab’s decision to engage BJP in an alliance based on written commitments for peace and development not only in the state but also along the borders,” she said.
“PDP’s agenda of making Kashmir a bridge between India and Pakistan and not letting it become a battle ground is being proved to be more relevant today than ever before,” she added.
