Srinagar: As the Assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir draw near, the region’s political landscape is witnessing a significant shift. Several political leaders, including those who had been inactive since the abrogation of Article 370, are now switching allegiances and joining new parties.
In the latest development, Zaffar Iqbal Manhas, a founding member of the Altaf Bukhari led Jammu Kashmir Apni Party, has resigned and is expected to join the Indian National Congress along with his son.
Sources told the news agency Kashmir News Trust that Manhas had reportedly fallen out of favor with the Apni Party leadership after his debacle in the recently concluded Parliament elections.
This move comes on the heels of another prominent leader, Abdul Haq Khan, rejoining the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) after being dormant for a period. Khan had virtually abandoned the PDP but has now returned to the party fold.
Sources indicate that more leaders are likely to switch sides in the coming days, as political parties vie for power in the upcoming Assembly elections. Every party is taking pride in welcoming back disgruntled leaders, hoping to bolster their chances at the polls.
This fluid political landscape is expected to continue in the lead-up to the elections, as leaders seek to align themselves with parties that can offer them the best prospects for power and influence. [KNT]
