One more senior PDP leader leaves the party: Was alliance with BJP a major blunder on part of Muftis?

In a major set back to the Peoples Democratic Party, one more senior party leader  bowed out of the party on Wednesday.

Former cabinet minister and a three time MLA Mohammad Khalil Bandh sent his resignation letter to PDP president Mehbooba Mufti, vice president Abdul Rehman Veeri and party general secretary Ghulam Nabi Lone Hanjura.

In his resignation letter, Bandh said that a political party was not worth continuing when its basic and founding principles were compromised.

"The party has upended after Mufti Mohammad Sayeed's demise. The old/experienced/ elected lot was not only ignored but humiliated to the core" Bandh wrote.

Bandh told National Herald that the party was hijacked by a select few and the senior party leaders had hardly any say in the decision making process with respect to organisational affairs.

Bandh said that he was thinking about joining any other political party. He said that he would explore the option of joining the Jammu and Kashmir National Conference.

PDP has been facing an existential crisis ever since its former ally BJP walked out of the alliance last year.

Around 9 former lawmakers and ministers have so far made an exit from the party. Mufti's defeat in the recent Lok Sabha elections from her strong hold Anantnag has paved the way for many leaders to leave the party.

"Many senior leaders have lost their faith in Mufti after she lost her Lok Sabha seat", said a political analyst who did not wish to be named. "PDP's alliance with BJP was a monumental blunder on the part of both Muftis" he added.

He said that the party went ahead in stitching the alliance with BJP despite reservations by many leaders and party sympathisers.

Sources within PDP said that some more lower and middle rung leaders may resign from the party before the assembly elections as there is a growing discontent among  the party ranks. Mufti is blamed, more often than not, by her party leaders for providing plum positions to her relatives.

Although Mufti divested her uncle Sartaj Madani of the position of party vice president last year, it failed to pacify the dissident leaders.