Big blow to PDP as two more join National Conference

SRINAGAR: Senior People’s Democratic Party members Basharat Bukhari and Peer Muhammad Hussain joined the rival National Conference on Wednesday, signalling continuing erosion of the Mehbooba Mufti-led party since it lost power after its coalition partner BJP withdrew support in June.

Former minister Bukhari and former Waqf Board chairman Hussain joined National Conference on in presence of party president Farooq Abdullah and former chief minister Omar Abdullah, a day after they were expelled by PDP for anti-party activities. Both Bukhari and Hussain said that they were unhappy with the PDP over a lot of decisions made during the coalition government.

“One grows a lot with time. Mehboobaji has also grown a lot and probably I cannot match the flight of her thinking. And why should I disturb her again and again? I don’t want to be disrespectful to her. As a mark of respect, I left the party,” Bukhari told media persons.


At least six leaders including Haseeb Drabu, Imran Ansari, Abid Ansari, Abbas Wani, Yasir Reshi and Saif-ud-din Bhat have left PDP so far. Hussain said that leaving the party was adifficult decision but PDP never kept the promise it had made during the election campaign. “PDP facilitated BJP’s entry into the state and we betrayed thetrust of people who voted us,” he said.