Early Times Newspaper Jammu
Breaking News :  
 
NEW DETAILS
PDP 'rebel' likely to join NC

Early Times Report
Srinagar, Jan 17: While a senior leader of the Peoples Democratic Party is likely to resign from the party in the coming days, he is enjoying "unusually cordial relations" with the National Conference top brass.
Sources said the PDP leader, who is presently aboard has been maintaining good relations with the Abdullahs and is likely to join the party.
Sources said some NC leaders recently discussed the matter threadbare at a high level meeting held at Nawa E Subh in Srinagar but that some of them have expressed their reservations on welcoming such leaders to the party fold.
Sources said the PDP leader who was planning to float a separate party has been discussing his prospects of joining the NC directly with the Abdullahs.
Sources said the leader is much closer to Omar Abdullah than his father Dr Farooq Abdullah.
It was reliably learnt that Omar has decided to discuss the matter with four of his party colleagues, who are close to him from Srinagar, Budgam and Nagrota in Jammu.
"If these four leaders agree with him (Omar), he (PDP leader) will be welcomed in the party with a grand reception," said a NC leader on the condition of anonymity.
The PDP leader, on the other hand, is understood to have conveyed to the NC leaders that he can win at least two seats in Srinagar district alone for the Assembly elections including one in Amira Kadal and the other in Batamaloo constituencies.
Sources said despite having taken a "leave" from PDP and having gone abroad for "some family celebrations", the former minister regularly interacts with the Abdullahs.
Sources said some of the PDP leaders have told Mehbooba Mufti to sack the said leader for his "anti-party activities for the last three years."
Sources said some of the PDP leaders from south Kashmir are all fire against the said leader. "One thing is clear that he will not stay with PDP and this has been decided in the interest of the party," a PDP leader said.
Despite repeated attempts the said leader couldn't be contacted for comments.