Abdul Salam Reshi, who had levelled allegations of "political corruption" in ruling National Conference and was a key witness in the Haji Mohammad Yousuf death case, today joined opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Reshi joined the PDP at a party function in Akingam village of south Kashmir, a party spokesman told reporters here.
Reshi was PDP member before joining Democratic Party Nationalist (DPN) led by Agriculture minister Ghulam Hassan Mir in 2008. He unsuccessfully contested the 2008 Assembly elections on DPN ticket.
After the elections, Reshi joined the ruling National Conference and created a sensation by alleging that he had paid Rs 35 lakh to Yousuf to get a berth in the state Legislative Council.
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah handed over Yousuf to Crime Branch in September 2011 for investigations after Reshi and another NC leader Mohammad Yousuf Bhat complained to him that they had paid huge sums to get MLC berths.
Yousuf died at police hospital in the custody of Crime Branch, prompting allegations that he was tortured at the Chief Minister's residence which latter caused his death in the custody.
Jammu and Kashmir government appointed retired Supreme Court Judge Justice H S Bedi to probe the matter. The one-man Commission ruled out any foul play in Yousuf's death and concluded that he had died of cardiac arrest.
