Mehbooba’s brother Tassaduq Mufti takes oath as minister

Dinesh Manhotra

Tribune News Service

Jammu, December 28

Tassaduq Mufti, brother of Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti, was inducted into the council of ministers on Thursday morning.

Javed Mustafa Mir, a three-time MLA, who was dropped from the council of ministers in 2016 when Mehbooba took over as chief minister, was also re-inducted as cabinet minister.

In a simple and brief function, Governor NN Vohra administered the oath of office and secrecy to the two at the Raj Bhavan lawns. Mir took the oath first and was followed by Mufti.

Assembly Speaker Kavinder Gupta, Mehbooba Mufti, members of Mufti family, Deputy Chief Minister Nirmal Singh, cabinet ministers and legislators were present on the occasion.

On December 22, Vohra had nominated Mufti as a Member of Legislative Council.

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Mufti was nominated on the seat vacated by Vikramaditya Singh, who had resigned as MLC in protest against the state government not declaring holiday on Maharaja Hari Singh’s birthday.

Tassaduq, 45, had resigned as head of the Chief Minister’s grievance cell on December 15. Tassaduq was also the candidate for the Anantnag Lok Sabha by-election, scheduled for April 12, which was deferred indefinitely after violence in Srinagar on the polling day.

A cinematographer by profession, Tassaduq Mufti holds a masters’ degree in fine arts from the American Centre. He had joined politics after the demise of his father Mufti Mohammad Sayeed in January 2016.

Mir, who represents Chadoora constituency, had earlier served as Revenue Minister under Mufti Mohammad Sayeed. He was, however, dropped by Mehbooba on April 4, 2016.

Mir was also minister in the PDP-Congress government from 2002 to 2008.