Former separatist leader joins PDP while Bandipora Zonal President resigns

SRINAGAR — In an important political development, former separatist leader Syed Saleem Geelani joined the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Sunday, as the party faced internal dissent with the resignation of its Zonal President for Bandipora, Peerzada Shareef-ud-Din Shah, over a ticket distribution issue.

At a ceremony attended by PDP Chief Mehbooba Mufti, Geelani announced his decision to join the PDP, stating that the party aligns with his views on resolving the Kashmir issue and addressing the plight of people in jails.

“I found no better platform than the PDP. I was inspired by the late Mufti Muhammad Sayeed’s focus on these issues,” Geelani said, adding that he takes pride in his past with Hurriyat and now with the PDP.

Mehbooba Mufti welcomed Geelani, highlighting that she had once proposed he run for office, but he declined, suggesting others be given the opportunity.

Meanwhile, Peerzada Shareef-ud-Din Shah, the PDP’s Zonal President for Bandipora, announced his resignation from the party’s basic membership, expressing dissatisfaction over the recent decision to grant a party ticket to Syed Tajamul in the Bandipora constituency.

Shah accused the PDP of sidelining dedicated party workers and failing to consider their input in the selection process.

“The party has not done justice to its workers and cannot be expected to do justice to the people,” Shah said.

He further claimed that the chosen candidate, Syed Tajamul, was not even a long-standing member of the party, “He has recently joined and was suddenly chosen as a candidate for the Bandipora constituency.”