Day after a rebel legislator from People’s Democratic Party Javaid Hussain Baig was back into the party fold, another dissenter Abdul Majeed Padder followed the suit and met the party president Mehbooba Mufti here on Tuesday.
Padder, who represents southern Noorabad constituency in the state assembly, arrived at Mehbooba’s residence for a meeting at around 11 am.
Talking to Greater Kashmir after the meeting concluded, Padder said that he had never left the party. But, he said, he was against a group of four to five people who had “hijacked the party agenda.”
“Since those people have been shown the door, I have no issues now,” he said, referring to recent restructuring of the PDP where some close relatives of Mehbooba and senior members who wielded a considerable influence during the previous government, were not given any key roles.
“I never had any issues with the party president. My only complaint was against the group,” said Padder, the first-time legislator.
He said that during the meeting which lasted for more than an hour, they discussed the party’s stand on Article 35-A which has been challenged in the Supreme Court.
Padder announced his return to the party, day after JavaidBaig, the PDP MLA from Baramulla, attended the party’s meeting which decided to boycott the upcoming panchayat and urban local body polls in Jammu and Kashmir. After the meeting, Baig had told Greater Kashmir that he had sorted all issues with the party.
The return of Baig and Padder into the PDP fold is seen as a setback to the rebel group led by former cabinet minister Imran Raza Ansari. The group had claimed that they were in touch with “like-minded” legislators from PDP and other parties to work towards formation of a new political force in Jammu and Kashmir, which is presently under governor’s rule following the fall of the PDP-BJP government on June 19. Other members of the rebel group include Muhammad Abbas Wani, Abid Ansari, YasirReshi and Saif-ud-Din Bhat.
Wani, who represents Gulmarg constituency, said that he was “free now”.
“I don’t want to go back to slavery,” he said.
A senior PDP leader said that they were in touch with two other dissenters and were hopeful of their return.
PDP spokesperson FirdousTak said: “Dissent is an important part of democracy. Our party has a strong democratic system in place. Dissent to improve the system is always helpful and only strengthens the party,” he said.
He said that it was heartening to see PDP leaders who laid the party’s foundation back into its fold. “Together, we all will work for strengthening the party,” he said.