Decks cleared for Tasaduq Mufti
Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir Governor N.N. Vohra has nominated Tassaduq Hussain Mufti as Member of Legislative Council. The governor also accepted the resignation of Syed Farooq Andrabi who is scheduled to be replaced by Tasaduq Mufti in the state council of Ministers.
Earlier, the Governor has returned the nomination file while seeking some clarifications from the PDP-BJP led government over the nomination of Mufti to the upper house.
“In exercise of powers vested in Governor under sub-section (6) of section 50 of the Constitution of Jammu and Kashmir, Governor N.N. Vohra has nominated Tassaduq Hussain Mufti as a Member of the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Council against the seat available in the Council,” an official spokesman said.
Farooq Andrabi, the uncle of Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti had tendered his resignation yesterday from the cabinet reportedly to pave way for the induction of Tasaduq Mufti, brother of Chief Minister into the state cabinet.
However, according to the sources, Andrabi has cited ‘personal reason’ for quitting the ministry.
“Governor N.N. Vohra has accepted the resignation of Syed Farooq Andrabi, Minister of State Haj and Aquaf (Independent Charge), PDD, PHE, I& FC and I&C,” added the spokesman.
Andrabi reportedly resigned so that the party could avoid criticism of Mehbooba Mufti having more than one family member in her ministry.
Andrabi, who defeated state Congress chief Gulam Ahmad Mir in 2014 elections represents Dooru constituency of Anantnag in south Kashmir. Andrabi was inducted into the council of Ministers on April 4, 2016.
Earlier, senior leaders in the party reportedly has proposed the idea that Tasaduq Mufti should be given a formal role in the government.
The nomination of Tasaduq Mufti was delayed by a day after Governor NN Vohra had returned the nomination file and sought cabinet’s clarification on a case pending in the state High Court.
The nomination of the eight MLCs was challenged by a lawyer in the state high court who said that all the norms fixed for nomination of these members to the Legislative Council were given a go ahead by the then Chief Minister Mufti Sayeed, and not by the state cabinet.
Meanwhile, the cabinet had recommended the nomination of Tasaduq Mufti against the vacancy created by the resignation of its former leader Yuvraj Vikramaditya Singh from the Legislative Council.
Vikramaditya Singh was one of the eight MLCs whose nomination had been challenged.
KV Correspondent
