Special Correspondent
JAMMU: The “neglected”–Jammu based leadership of ruling People’s Democratic Party. comprising founder members and close aides of Late Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, are craving for being paid for the selfless loyality besides eyeing berth in Mehbooba Mufti led PDP-BJP Jammu and Kashmir Government.
The Mehbooba–led government, which accommodated most of the Kashmir–centric leaders in her cabinet, undoubtedly invited criticism and alleged factionalism within the party especially from the Jammu based leaders, who have resentment for their own party chief.
Sources close to the party told this correspondent that tendering resignation by Syed Basharat Bukhari and Moulvi Imran Raza Ansari, was merely a tip of an iceberg but PDP has become a “divided house” over not giving due share to the deserving leaders than adjusting the “blue-eyed” of the Chief Minister.
Pertinently Bukhari withdrew his resignation and joined as minister with new task as In-charge Horticulture but Imran Ansari, who is reportedly out of the country, is still adamant over portfolio allotment.
“PDP affiliated leaders from Jammu are seasoned and have decades long political experience as they remained closely associated with late Mufti Sayeed since the party was found,” said a party leader pleading anonymity.
He said that the PDP leaders in Jammu have sweat hard besides remaining committed to party’s ideology even when Jammu people were not in favour of it.
“PDP’s bent of mind towards Kashmir kept the party out of bay from Jammu’s political arena but the leaders carried on with its thoughts and came out of troubled waters by pursuing party’s agenda in the region having anti-PDP mindset,” he added.
Party sources however, said although the stalwarts of PDP are being invited from time to time for advises and suggestions to keep party floating in Jammu which is not enough as the leadership deserved more than that.
“In April, six of the MLCs including one from PDP, three from National Conference and two from Congress are completing their term and in that matter, PDP high command should at least consider someone from Jammu and reward him for lifetime services,” party sources said.
They further said one of the ministers is yet to be inducted into Mehbooba’s cabinet and instead of focussing Kashmir, Jammu can be taken on priority to strengthen party’s base in BJP dominated region as it is alliance partner in the government.
“We have all regards for the party leader and high command but simultaneously, Jammu leaders should be treated at par with Kashmir–based leaders to further cement party’s internal relations,” a party leader asserted. He said that BJP has really played smart by accommodating their long associated leaders as chairpersons and chairmen of various Boards and PDP should also have second thought on it and give space to deserving men in the party.
