Unhappy With the Portfolio, Sajjad Lone Quits Mehbooba’s Cabinet

Sajjad Lone was allocated the social welfare department but sources close to him say he was unhappy with it.

File photo of Sajjad Lone taking oath in Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti’s cabinet. (Photo Courtesy: ANI)

Sajjad Lone, a minister in the PDP-BJP ruling coalition in Jammu and Kashmir, on Wednesday, sent his resignation to the BJP high command, sources said. Lone was reportedly dissatisfied with the portfolio allotted to him.

Yes, he has sent his letter of resignation to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) high command for forwarding the same to Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti

<b>Sources close to Sajjad Lone</b>

A separatist-turned-mainstream politician, Sajjad is the son of senior separatist leader, Abdul Gani Lone who was killed by guerrillas in 2002.

Sajjad Lone, chairman of Peoples Conference (PC), contested 2014 assembly elections from Handwara constituency in Kupwara district and won.

After the election, he announced support to the BJP and was a cabinet minister in the 10-month long Mufti Muhammad Sayeed government as a BJP nominee in the council of ministers.

“Sajad sahib is not satisfied with the portfolio allotted to him. He has to answer the people who reposed trust in him,” sources close to him said.

Lone had switched off his phones to avoid the media.

Senior PDP leader and finance minister Haseeb Drabu called on him to persuade him to reconsider his decision.

He even refused to meet local BJP leaders, who called on his official residence in Jammu late Tuesday evening.

Sajad was allotted the social welfare department portfolio by Mehbooba Mufti. Sources said he had expected to get health and medical education department.

In Mufti Muhammad Sayeed’s government, Lone was the minister for sheep and animal husbandry department.

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