PDP expels former minister Altaf Bukhari for 'anti-party activities'

Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) today expelled another senior leader and two-time former minister Altaf Bukhari for 'anti-party activities'.

On December 18, the party had expelled Basharat Bukhari and Peer Muhammad Hussain on similar grounds. The two later joined the National Conference (NC) party.

“(The) party today expelled Altaf Bukhari from the party for his anti-party activities,” a PDP tweet said. “Party has been watching with concern the activities of Altaf Bukhari for quite some time and thereby stands expelled from the basic membership of the party.”

Bukhari said he was happy with the party's decision to expel him. “I feel that I have been relieved from a huge burden and have been freed from imprisonment,'' he said.

He had played an important role in winning the support of the NC and the Congress for PDP to stake claim to form the government on November 22 last year, five months after the BJP pulled out of the coalition with the PDP.

After PDP president Mehbooba Mufti wrote to governor Satya Pal Malik that the PDP has the support of the NC and the Congress, Sajjad Lone of People's Conference party—a BJP ally—had also written to the governor to stake claim to form the government with the help of the BJP and 18 unidentified MLAs.

Malik had dissolved the assembly the same day and said he was unable to receive the fax by Mehbooba and Lone because of a holiday.

If PDP-NC-Congress alliance had materialised, Bukhari was likely to lead the coalition as the chief minister. Considered a heavyweight, he was inducted into the cabinet twice—as finance minister in the PDP-BJP coalition and also as education minister.

His relations with Mehbooba had soured, allegedly, for trying to resume the alliance with the BJP after Mufti Mohammad Sayeed's death. Addressing party workers on the second death anniversary of her father on January 7, she said she had tried to secure some concessions from the BJP after her father's death, but some PDP leader colluded with the BJP forcing her to resume the alliance with the saffron party.

Political manoeuvring in Kashmir has gained pace, in view of the impending election. Politicians, especially from the PDP, are exploring the possibility to joining other parties that have a greater chance of forming the next government.

On January 8, Bukhari had said that coalition governments have proved detrimental to the interests of the state.

''I personally believe that Kashmir has suffered a lot because of coalition politics that started since 2002. The results of coming assembly elections shall have a huge bearing on the stability and all-round development of the state,” Bukhari said in a statement.

The statement irked the PDP leaders, who called it Bukhari's personal opinion.