Discontent within PDP grows

The Peoples Democratic Party suffered another setback today as its MLC Yasir Reshi extended support to a faction of disgruntled party leaders and called for ending the "two-family power-sharing model" in Jammu and Kashmir.

"I am in complete conformity with the views expressed recently by my esteemed colleagues, to find an alternative to the traditional two-family system," Reshi said in a statement.

He has supported the group of PDP leaders led by Pattan MLA and former minister Imran Ansari and his MLA uncle from Zadibal, Abid Ansari, who have accused PDP president Mehbooba Mufti of nepotism and incompetence during her tenure as chief minister of the coalition government with the BJP.

Tangmarg MLA Abbas Wani, Noorabad MLA Abdul Majid Paddar and Baramulla MLA Javaid Beigh have also thrown their weight behind the Ansaris.

Reshi said the state is facing multiple challenges of governance, law and order and societal distress which successive governments had failed to address, resulting in "anarchical situation".

"The need of the hour is to rise to the occasion and collectively, cutting across party lines, build a consensus on a leadership which has the capacity to countering these challenges. The only way out is to give chance to a new leadership," he said.

Referring to the National Conference and PDP - headed by the Abdullahs and Muftis, Reshi said the state needs respite from the "tried, tested and failed two-family power-sharing model".