Sajjad Lone makes it to Mufti Sayeed cabinet on BJP quota

JAMMU: Separatist leader-turned politician Sajjad Gani Lone, whose People’s Conference won two seats in the 87-member Kashmir legislative assembly, was inducted in the Mufti Sayeed-led coalition government on Sunday, after what some party workers said was a lastminute intervention by the PM.

Sources in PC said the PDP was opposed to his inclusion in the government on the grounds that the alliance was between two parties only. Mufti, according to them, was uncomfortable with helping an opponent grow on his home turf.

“We had absolutely no role in it,” a senior PDP leader close to the developments said. “He was with the BJP and apparently was seeking a particular portfolio, which they disagreed to and that was it. Then finally they said he is in. We had no problems because he is from their quota, not from ours.”

Son of slain separatist leader Abdul Gani Lone, he shares his political legacy with his elder brother, Bilal, a separatist leader currently with Mirwaiz Umer Farooq-led Hurriyat Conference. Sajjad Lone fielded proxy candidates in 2002 polls and later contested the 2014 Lok Sabha elections as well. Later in the assembly polls, he fielded a number of candidates and eventually won two seats.

Rashid M, a Lone-loyalist, said the PC leader was initially reluctant when the BJP wanted him to join the cabinet, but he finally agreed.