Choudhary quits PDP, alleges coterie hijacked party

Ex-MLC Surinder Choudhary addressing a press conference in Jammu. —Excelsior/Rakesh
Ex-MLC Surinder Choudhary addressing a press conference in Jammu. —Excelsior/Rakesh

*DDC member, BDC chairman, 16 Sarpanchs, others also resign
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Mar 30: Former MLC and senior PDP leader , Surinder Choudhary, along with District Development Council (DDC) member, Block Development Council (BDC) Chairman, Sarpanchs, Panchs and Councilors from Nowshera resigned from the primary membership of the party.
Choudhary announced his decision to quit the PDP at a crowded press conference at Press Club of Jammu today. DDC member from Nowshera, Dr Manohar Singh, BDC Chairman Bodh Raj, 16 Sarpanchs, 70 Panchs, three Councilors, office bearers of Zonal Committees were also present in the press conference.
“PDP has been hijacked by a coterie comprising drawing room politicians, land grabbers and mafia. This coterie is responsible for resignations of almost all senior leaders of the party”, Choudhary said and regretted that the party has abandoned the visionary agenda of late Mufti Mohammad Sayeed.
Before resigning from the primary membership of the party, former MLC in a letter written to the PDP president, Mehbooba Mufti, cautioned her against this coterie in the party.
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With heavy heart, I am writing this resignation letter to you as I have no option but to quit the party which has, unfortunately, been hijacked by the unscrupulous elements with mysterious character. Unfortunately, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), which had earned trust and faith of the people of all regions and sub-regions of J&K under the visionary leadership of late Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, now has turned into a party of drawing room politicians, who have no communications with people at grass-root level”, Choudhary mentioned in his letter.
“The one and the only mission of late Mufti Sayeed to form the PDP was to provide a viable and secular alternative in the erstwhile state of J&K to represent regional aspirations of the people. It was the desire of Late Mufti to establish a lasting and sustainable peace in J&K by removing alienation among all alienated sections of the society, especially the youth”, Choudhary maintained.
But unfortunately, after the demise of Mufti Sayeed, PDP was virtually hijacked by those having no connection with the public. The leaders, having direct contact with the masses, were ignored as a coterie- comprising drawing room politicians, land mafia and land grabbers, has completely taken control of the party”, he regretted.
“My suggestions were not taken seriously by the leadership because drawing room politicians never allowed her to listen to genuine mass base leaders. I was feeling safocated and ultimately decided to quit,” Choudhary added.
When asked which party he will be joining, ex-MLC said he will sit with his supporters/ people of the area and then take a decision after taking them into confidence.