Efforts underway to rope in Baig for new party: Bukhari
New front likely to be formed after green signal from ex-PDP minister
Efforts are underway to bring former Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Muzzuffar Hussain Baig on board before new party could be launched by a group of former ministers and legislators led by former minister, Altaf Bukhari.
Former minister Altaf Bukhari admitted that they are in touch with Baig but said party will be launched at an appropriate time. ‘’We are finalising the details.’’
Sources, however said that only after the green signal from Baig, the new party will be announced, otherwise it could get delayed.
Baig was recently awarded Padma Bhushan and had been giving statements about the restoration of Jammu and Kashmir’s statehood. The former deputy chief minister and former MP from Baramulla, who was one of the founding members of the PDP, is already in talks with the leaders who are planning to float the new party.
Sources said that Bukhari had already been conveyed by the Centre that he should also get Baig on board before he makes the announcement of the new political party in J&K.
Baig recently held a closeddoor meeting with Altaf Bukhari in Jammu and discussed issues pertaining to J&K and new political party. Bukhari also met BJP general secretary Ram Madhav in Gulmarg on Saturday, though he later ruled out anything political was discussed in the meeting and described it a ‘chance encounter’ at a function arranged by a Delhi-based friend.
Sources said that Baig is not averse to joining the new front, however, he wants some commitment from Altaf Bukahri and others who are leading the initiative of launching the new political front, which will fight for the J&K’’s statehood and domicile rights.
Sources said that even some top leaders in the Centre want former deputy CM be given an important position in the new political party.
Sources privy to developments told Hindustan Times that the constitution of the new political party was also discussed with Baig, who is also considered as an expert lawyer besides a senior politician of the state.
“First there was no role of Baig in the new political party, but some powerful people in Delhi want Baig in the new party at an important position, even some leaders in the national capital want Baig to lead this initiative instead of Altaf Bukhari,’’ said a former legislator, who is part of the new party.
However, many leaders in the new party though are happy with inclusion of Muzuffar Baig, however, they don’t want him to lead this party due to some political compulsion… “Most of the leader’s former legislators prefer Bukhari over Baig as they consider him more accessible than Baig,’’ said a leader who is part of this group.
Recently, Altaf Bukhari and other former legislators had said that after formation of new political party they would be meeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah.
Baig, however, has not publicly endorsed new political party and continues to remain as the patron of the PDP. Peoples Democratic Party has already taken action against a dozen of leaders, including former ministers and legislators, by expelling them after they met the foreign envoys and J&K’s Lt Governor GC Murmu.
The expelled leaders have now joined hands with Altaf Bukhari.
BAIG RECENTLY HELD A
CLOSED-DOOR MEETING WITH FORMER CABINET MINISTER IN JAMMU AND DISCUSSED ISSUES PERTAINING TO J&K AND NEW POLITICAL FRONT