Cell did a lot of work, I hope it will be taken forward’
Neeraj Rohmetra
JAMMU, Dec 15: Tassaduq Hussain Mufti, Coordinator J&K Chief Minister’s Grievance Cell and brother of Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti today submitted his resignation ahead of his nomination as member of the Legislative Council, which was cleared by the Cabinet today through circulation among the Ministers.
He is being nominated as the Member of Legislative Council against a vacancy that arose after the resignation of Vikramaditya Singh from the PDP as well as Upper House on a host of issues including non-declaration of holiday on birth anniversary of Maharaja Hari Singh.
PDP insiders told the Excelsior that while decks have been cleared for nomination of Tassaduq Mufti to the Legislative Council, few days before start of budget session of the Legislature on January 2 but they ruled out his immediate induction in the Council of Ministry on the ground that the PDP president and Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti would like her brother to gain some experience before being made the Minister.
Confirming his resignation, Tassaduq told the Excelsior that the CM’s Grievance Cell, where he was working as Coordinator was doing very well and had been able to handle lot of problems put forth by the people.
“I enjoyed full support of the Chief Minister. We were not only engaged in addressing grievances of the people but were working to create better avenues for youth through the data base,” Tassaduq, who had been appointed Coordinator of the CM’s Grievance Cell on May 12 this year, said.
Expressing confidence that the Grievance Cell would continue to function with similar zeal, he said, ” I owe success of the Cell to some brilliant officers, who worked 24×7 to make working of the Cell a complete success by addressing problems projected by the people before it”.
“We made lot of efforts in various fields. Efforts were made to reduce traffic congestion, solve problems arising out of brick kilns and enter into collaboration with several organizations to find solution to problems voiced by the people. Various innovative measures were taken to simplify working of many Departments,” Tassaduq said.
Sources said Tassaduq’s resignation was necessitated before his nomination to the Legislative Council as he can hold only one office at a time. However, even after his resignation, sources said, the Grievance Cell would continue to function and possibility about the appointment of new Coordinator hasn’t been ruled out.
On his nomination to the Upper House, Tassaduq would get only remaining tem of Vikramaditya i.e. about three and a half years.
He submitted his resignation to the Chief Secretary.
The State Cabinet today cleared the nomination of Tassaduq Mufti to the Legislative Council through circulation of memorandum among the Cabinet Ministers. The proposal now would be sent to the Governor for filling up the vacancy by nominating Tassaduq as member of the Upper House in place of Vikramaditya Singh, whose resignation has already been accepted by the Chairman of the Council.
The Legislative Council has the provision of nomination of eight members by the Governor on the advice of State Government from among the people, who distinguished themselves in various fields. All eight MLCs-four each from PDP and BJP-were nominated in March 2015.
The PDP has one vacancy in its quota in the Council of Ministry but, according to sources, Chief Minister and PDP president Mehbooba Mufti would like Tassaduq to gain some experience before his induction in the Ministry.
The last Cabinet reshuffle had taken place in first week of February this year with the re-induction of Altaf Bukhari as the Education Minister, keeping one post vacant in the quota of PDP. Another coalition partner, the BJP has exhausted its quota in the Ministry.
After Altaf Bukhari’s re-induction and change in portfolios, Sports Minister Imran Raza Ansari and Horticulture Minister Basharat Bukhari had resigned over allotment of insignificant portfolios to them but had resumed work on the advice of the Chief Minister as they had been assured some better portfolios.
A cinematographer by profession, 45-year old Tassaduq Mufti holds a Masters degree in Fine Arts from the American Center. He is also the brain behind a five-minute short film on the State’s Tourism Department.
He was the PDP candidate on Anantnag Parliament seat, where by-election was scheduled to be held in May this year but the election was deferred in view of violence during polling on Srinagar Lok Sabha seat. He was facing PCC (I) chief GA Mir as his rival among others.
Later, he was appointed as Coordinator J&K Chief Minister’s Grievance Cell.
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