Beigh signals revolt in PDP; not averse to join Lone's third front

Signalling revolt in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), its founding member and Lok Sabha MP from Baramulla, Muzaffar Hussain Beigh, Tuesday announced that he would "seriously consider" joining a third front led by People's Conference leader Sajad Lone.

Blaming the PDP for failing to deliver to the people, he hit out at his party for boycotting the civic body and panchayat elections in Jammu and Kashmir, saying "the PDP betrayed the workers, denying them a chance to connect with the people, by boycotting the elections. They left a vacuum and that space has now been occupied. Politics does not wait for people who boycott".

Talking to reporters here at his residence, he said he was not consulted when the party took the decision to boycott the local body polls. "I was in Delhi, just a phone call away. I remained quiet because I did not want the PDP to fall asunder," he said.

Reacting to speculations that the PDP and arch rival National Conference might join hands to form a government in the state to foil the BJP's attempts at government formation, Beigh said the PDP was formed to end the family rule and bring in democracy.

"Now this talk of NC-PDP alliance. How will people of Jammu react? How will people of Ladakh react? It will be an alliance of one religion...Jammu would not like it, Ladakh will not remain part of the state. This will lead to trifurcation of the state," he warned.

Asked if he would quit the PDP, the Baramulla MP said he would await a response from the party leadership before taking the step.

"I have not made up my mind. I will have to think about it. It is very difficult to resign from a party which I have formed," he said.

Asked if he would join an alternative front to the National Conference and PDP, Beigh said, "I will seriously consider joining the third front if it emerges."
Lone took to Twitter soon after Beigh addressed a press conference, and said, "I am humbled by Muzaffar Beigh Sahib's statement. A person of his stature, experience and intellect can be the defining attribute of the emerging third party @JKPC_
I remember him as my favourite uncle during my childhood. I was his pampered brat."
Responding to the possibility of either NC or PDP getting absolute majority in future assembly elections, Beigh said, "It will be foolish of me to think that NC or PDP will ever get a majority. There was a wave in 2014 (assembly elections) and we (PDP) still could not get 30 seats."