With the Assembly elections approaching, several political leaders in J&K have switched sides or resigned from their respective political parties.
From the Awami Ittehad Party (AIP) to People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to Democratic Progressive Azad Party (DPAP), many leaders are swiftly changing loyalties.
Discontentment has been brewing among senior leadership in the PDP under Mehbooba Mufti, with several tendering their resignations.
The reason behind the discontent is that many members did not get the constituency they wanted after the PDP published its list of constituency in-charges.
PDP spokesperson Suhail Bukhari resigned after being denied a chance to contest from the Wagoora-Kreeri constituency.
According to sources, Bukhari felt that the party was going on the wrong track as some of its loyal members were being overlooked while those who had deserted it when things were going wrong with PDP were being welcomed back.
He is likely to join the Awami Ittehad Party (AIP).
Another senior PDP leader, Dr Harbaksh Singh, who is also the District Development Council member (DDC) from Tral, resigned to join AIP
Former MLA Ajaz Mir and more than ten DDC members have already left the party, with Mir yet to decide whether it should be Congress or AIP.
When former minister Abdul Haq Khan rejoined the PDP after a gap of two years he was welcomed warmly by Mufti.
Khan, who had been elected twice to the Legislative Assembly from the Lolab constituency of Kupwara district, had started distancing himself from the party after the fall of the government in 2018.
Prominent tribal leader Choudhary Haroon Khatana of Anantnag district resigned from the Democratic Progressive Azad Party and joined the PDP.
The move is likely to be made official with Khatana representing the party in the Kokernag Assembly segment, now reserved for Scheduled Tribes.
Apni Party Vice President Zafar Iqbal Manhas and his son have also resigned and are likely to join the Congress.
Manhas said the future course of action would be decided based on the feedback he gets from his supporters.
Sources said that the Congress is expected to get a major shot in the arm ahead of party leaders Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge’s visit to the Union Territory.
At least half a dozen DPAP leaders, including two former legislators from South Kashmir, are also likely to announce their resignation and rejoin Congress.
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