PDP rebel legislator Reshi ‘attends’ Lone’s public meet

Samaan Lateef

Tribune News Service

Srinagar, July 19

Amid speculations of government formation, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) legislator Yasir Reshi appeared with BJP ally and Peoples Conference chairman Sajad Gani Lone at a public meeting in north Kashmir’s Handwara sub-district on Thursday.

The rebel leaders have publicly criticised president Mehbooba Mufti’s leadership and claimed that they were the real PDP.

However, it’s for the first time a PDP leader has appeared in Lone’s political event.

Sources said MLC Reshi had formally joined the Peoples Conference and would contest the next election from the Sonawari constituency in north Kashmir’s Bandipora district. He lost the 2014 Assembly seat by a thin margin of nearly 432 votes against NationalConference stalwart Akbar Lone.

However, Reshi denied joining the party. “I have not joined the Peoples Conference. I had gone to Kupwara with my friend Sajad Lone to attend a condolence meeting. While returning, people came to meet Lone at Handwara and I was also present there,” he added.

Influential Shia leader Imran Raza Ansari, who was a Cabinet minister during Mehbooba’s term, is leading the PDP rebels. He has been joined by three MLAs, namely Javaid Hussain Baig, Abdul Majeed Paddar and Abbas Wani. Also, two PDP MLCs — Yasir Reshi and Saifuddin Bhat — have publicly revolted against the party. The PDP rebel leaders are rallying behind Lone.