Srinagar, July 23, KDC: Former Minister and Vice President of the Jammu and Kashmir Apni Party, Usman Majid, has made significant moves indicating his departure from the party led by Altaf Bukhari.
According to Srinagar-based news gathering agency Kashmir Dot Com, this development has been pointed out by changes in his social media profiles, where references to the Apni Party have been conspicuously removed.
Moreover, a press release issued on Monday by Majid’s office, titled “Political Workers from different political parties Join Forces with Former Minister Usman Majid in Bandipora,” notably omitted any mention of the Apni Party, further hinting at his imminent exit.
Majid, a two-time MLA from the Bandipora assembly segment and former Minister of Planning & Development in J&K, has a long-standing political history, previously aligned with the Congress before joining the Apni Party.
Sources close to the matter revealed ongoing discussions between Majid and the Congress high-command over the past weeks, indicating a probable reunion with his former party.
The potential return to Congress, along with associates like Imtiyaz Parray from the Sonawari assembly segment, marks a significant setback for the Apni Party, founded by Altaf Bukhari, a former Minister in the PDP-BJP government.
This move comes at a critical juncture as Jammu and Kashmir ‘prepares’ for upcoming assembly elections, the first since its transition to a Union Territory and the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019.
Political analysts view Majid’s departure as part of a larger trend where leaders disillusioned with recent electoral performances are reassessing their political affiliations. Earlier instances include Khursheed Alam’s exit from Sajad Lone’s Peoples Conference to rejoin PDP, highlighting a broader realignment within the region’s political landscape. Former J&K minister Syed Basharat Bukhari also rejoined the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) this month.
As the political situation in Jammu and Kashmir keeps changing before the upcoming elections, more political leaders are expected to switch sides. (KDC)
