PDP patron Baig quits party, submits resignation to Mehbooba Mufti

Baig, who was one of the founding members of PDP, has submitted his resignation from the position of patron and basic membership of the party to PDP president Mehbooba Mufti.

Sources said that Baig, who was a Deputy Chief Minister in PDP-Congress coalition government, was not consulted before seat-sharing agreement with PAGD parties.

Baig is likely to address a press conference on Sunday to announce future course of action.

PDP had distanced itself from the former deputy chief minister after he met the visiting Members of European Parliament in New Delhi in October 29, 2019 in the backdrop of unrest in the valley post abrogation of special status of erstwhile state of J&K and arrest of Mehbooba and all other leaders of mainstream parties.

Baig had openly criticized Ms Mehbooba, accusing her of being responsible for downgrading of Jammu and Kashmir into two union territories by making "provocative" and "threatening" statements over Article 370.

Mehbooba, a former chief minister, had warned the Centre that if special rights and privileges to the people of Jammu and Kashmir under Article 370 of the Constitution were tinkered with, then there would be no one left in the state to hold the tricolour.

Senior PDP leaders have criticized Baig, a Supreme Court lawyer, for remaining silent over the detention of Mehbooba and other leaders of the party.

Baig was awarded Padma Bhushan in 2020 by the Government of India when Mehbooba was still in jail. He had called meeting of senior leaders when PDP president was in jail which could not be held.

However, he was not invited in subsequent meetings of PDP called by Party General Secretary Ghulam Nabi Hanjura. His nephew Javaid Hussain Baig had left PDP and joined Apni Party headed by former PDP minister Syed Altaf Bukhari.