PDP members unhappy with cabinet reshuffle

Srinagar, May 02: Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) members appear to be unhappy with the recent cabinet reshuffle.
The state government recently inducted new faces from both PDP and BJP into the coalition’s cabinet of ministers.
From PDP’s, MLA Lolab Abdul Haq Khan was ousted while MLA Pulwama, Muhammad Khalil Bandh, and MLA Sonwar, Muhammad Ashraf Mir, were included into the cabinet.
Abdul Majeed Paddar, the erstwhile Minister of State for Forests, Irrigation and Flood Control, who was removed from the cabinet in 2016, expressed displeasure over his exclusion from the cabinet.
He said the cabinet decision by the Chief Minister has disappointed the “most peace loving” people from his constituency.
“I have no objection with the party’s decision. The party has not betrayed me but the people from my constituency. In entire south Kashmir my constituency is the most peaceful place as people here don’t protest or throw stones,” he was seen saying in a video addressed to the video.
Paddar said the party has ignored the district and “dashed hopes of the people”.
“Party ne logun ke ummedun par paani fer diya (the party has dashed hopes of the people of my constituency). I alone fought election here, but now the same district has been ignored,” he said.
Citing the importance of his constituency, the former MoS said that the successive governments have always chosen ministers from Noorabad.
“History is witness that since the inception of politics in Jammu and Kashmir, every leader from Noorabad constituency has been the minister. We have seen Zargar Sahab, Sakina Itoo earlier as ministers,” he said.
As per the sources within the party, former Minister for Rural Development, Abudl Haq Khan, is not happy either.
Sources said that Khan wasn’t aware of his ouster from the cabinet.
“He was surprised on learning his expulsion from the cabinet on Sunday evening and is probably unhappy with the decision,” sources said.
Khan, however, wasn’t available for comments.
PDP Vice President Muhammad Sartaj Madni Wednesday hinted at the party president assigning ousted Minister Abdul Haq an important job in the organization to help fill a void caused by preoccupation of most of the senior colleagues in government and other key sectors.
“The party feels that North Kashmir in particular and state unit in general needs the services of a seasoned politician who can spare his time and energy to steer the party successfully out of challenges. Haq has cultivated a constituency much beyond Lolab and Kupwara and is now known for his standing in Pahari belts of the state. It is widely believed in party circles that a prominent position to him in the party can help consolidate further the base of the party here and elsewhere,” Madni was quoted by news agency CNS.
“Haq Khan is seen as one of the most dedicated PDP leaders who is respected by the people for their conviction and he is likely to get a suitable responsibility to serve the people’s cause along with other top party leaders. Party president believes he is a trouble shooter whose services will boost the party image,” Khan said.