Two J&K ministers resign from Mehbooba's cabinet

Shortly after senior PDP leader Basharat Bukhari resigned from the Jammu and Kashmir cabinet, another PDP leader Imran Ansari followed by puting in his papers on Friday.

Sources close to Ansari, who holds the Youth Services and Sports portfolio, said he was expecting "a better deal and a more important portfolio in today's (Friday's) cabinet reshuffle" by Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti.

Earlier in the day, apparently irked over the change in his portfolio, Basharat Bukhari resigned from the cabinet.

Chief Minister Mufti on Friday re-inducted Altaf Bukhari, legislator from Amira Kadal, into her Council of Ministers.

Consequent upon the induction of Altaf Bukhari, who has been assigned the Education portfolio, Basharat Bukhari was assigned the Horticulture portfolio.

Basharat Bukhari held Relief, Rehabilitation and Revenue portfolio till the reshuffle.

Mufti has now assigned the Rehabilitation and Revenue portfolio to A.R. Veeri, who held the Public Works portfolio earlier.

Basharat Bukhari confirmed that he has sent his resignation letter to the Chief Minister detailing the reasons behind his decision to quit. However, the Chief Minister's Office denied having received any resignation from the ministers.

Basharat Bukhari represents the north Kashmir Sangrama constituency in the 87-member state legislative assembly.

--IANS

sq/ahm/dg