Former Deputy CM And PDP Leader Muzafar Hussain Beigh Quits Party Over Seat Sharing Issues With NC

Accusing the party’s leadership of betraying the basic principles of the party as NC is contesting on majority seats, Beigh told the media that he was unhappy over the seat-sharing arrangement between the PDP and the NC for the DDC elections.

PDP Chief Mehbooba Mufti. (Image: PTI)

Former Deputy Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir and People’s Democratic Party (PDP) senior leader Muzafar Hussain Beigh, on Saturday resigned from his primary membership of PDP, over the seat-sharing issue between PDP, National Conference, and other parties of People’s Alliance for Gupkar Declaration (PAGD) in the upcoming District Development Council (DDC) elections.   Accusing the party’s leadership of betraying the basic principles of the party as NC is contesting on majority seats, Beigh told the media that he was unhappy over the seat-sharing arrangement between the PDP and the NC for the DDC elections. "Under this arrangement, the NC is fighting the maximum number of seats and this is not in the interest of the PDP," Beigh told the reporters. “I respect Farooq Abdullah, Mehbooba Mufti and I wish them luck. I am leaving PDP on principle,” he further added. Another reason the senior leader gave for quitting the party was that, he was not consulted regarding the seat-sharing agreement with PAGD affiliated parties. On being asked about the resignation, Beigh told the media that he directly called the former CM Mehbooba Mufti and tendered his resignation on the phone as a member and as a patron of the party. “Today evening I called her (Mehbooba) and told her about resignation from PDP as a patron and a member,” Beigh told the media. While talking to the media, the senior leader has still not made any announcement whether he will be joining some other party. Regarding future strategy, he said, “I will consult my friends and well-wishers regarding my future strategy.” A close aide of late Mufti Muhammad Sayeed, the PDP founder, and former Chief Minister, Beigh from some time was missing from the proximity of Mehbooba Mufti. PDP former ally of the BJP is set to contest the upcoming DDC elections with Omar Abdullah led NC under a seat-sharing agreement after the like-minded mainstream parties of J&K formed the People's Alliance for Gupkar Declaration (PAGD) that seeks restoration of Article 370 and statehood for J&K. The PAGD has released the first list of 27 candidates for the first phase, in which the NC will contest 21, the PDP 4, and the PC headed by Sajad Gani Lone on two seats.