Mehbooba seeks to reassert her grip over faction-ridden PDP

SRINAGAR: Incensed over internal party bickering and growing number of coteries, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti has appointed an aide as an interface between her and PDP ministers to reassert her grip over the party in Jammu and Kashmir, sources said.

Mehbooba, sources said, has also had some bitterness in relationship with her chief minister father Mufti Muhammad Sayeed of late as the two are not on the same page on a number of issues.

Recent reshuffles, several postings and PDP ministers’ brazen indulgence in groupism, self-promotion and politics to quarantine Sayeed prompted the PDP chief to take the unusual step this week.

She has appointed Peerzada Mansoor Hussain, a confidant, as her political advisor who will double up as a go-between for the PDP ministers and her.

“Mansoor will assist the president in the day to day organisational matters and convey her directions on different subjects whenever necessary. He will also liaise with the party ministers and remain in contact with the government on behalf of the party president to take up and pursue matters of public interest and grievances,” said a PDP spokesman.

The move comes in the backdrop of two senior cabinet ministers haggling over influence within the party, dividing it into two camps vertically. The situation reached to a point where the presence of one cabinet minister will keep another minister away even in CM Sayeed’s public appearances, interaction with civil society and tours of constituencies.

The split was wide open when these leaders spoke in contrasting languages on the crucial issues of new employment policy and creation of composite Pandit townships.

While one refused to acknowledge that any employment policy is in vogue to hire people on minimum wages, another minister made a public statement claiming the policy stays without a roll back. BEIJING: The long painting is titled “The Everlasting SinoIndia Dharma Connection” in Chinese.

It is made on specially handcrafted paper and on its lower part, Prime Minister Narendra

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