Peerzada Ummer
Early Times Report
srinagar, Apr 7: The ruling Peoples' Democratic Party (PDP) is without a spokesperson, with leaders preferring to speak in their own capacities than putting party's point of view before the public domain.
On May 10, 2015, amid much fanfare, the PDP had appointed the former Minister and Parliamentarian, Dr Mehboob Beg as the party's chief spokesman. The post was earlier held by Mufti's close confidant Naeem Akhtar but was later given to Beg as Akhtar was inducted in Mufti's Cabinet as the Education Minister. Beg, son of NC veteran late Mirza Mohammad Afzal Beg left NC ahead of the 2014 polls and declared his full support to Mufti Mohammad Sayeed's PDP. Soon after the PDP formed Government with the PDP, Beg was elevated to the post of chief spokesman in the party. However, his authority came under the cloud when he, without consulting the party chief, declared that the alliance with the BJP was intact alive. Beg made such a startling revelation before the press at the time when a deadlock was only deepening over the formation in Jammu and Kashmir.
On Jan 12, this year, merely five days after the death of then Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, Beg revealed that PDP's alliance with Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) was intact and that neither side has set any preconditions towards the formation of new Government in Jammu and Kashmir. Such a statement came at a time when the speculations of a possible breakdown of the coalition were ripe as the Governor's rule was imposed in the State. The PDP chief had toughened her stand, asking the GoI to uphold the Agenda of Alliance. Beg, however, in the midst of the crises, jumped in the fray without consulting party's top brass and saying that the terms of alliance already worked out with the BJP will continue to govern the relationship between the two parties in the next Government. However, merely a day after the statement was made, the party distanced itself from what Beg has stated, maintaining that it was assurance from the GoI over certain issues ahead of entering into any bonhomie with the BJP.
Since Jan 12, this year, Beg, the chief spokesman of the PDP hasn't issued a single statement, leave alone talking to press and answering their queries related to the issues confronting the party at present. He, as per sources, wasn't even the part of any consultations that the party held ahead of the Government formation. "He (Beg) didn't present his opinion and no one even asked him for the same," said a party leader.
At present, as per the PDP insiders, the party is without the spokesman. "There are leaders who can talk to you in their own personal capacity but no one can tell you with certainty that whatever he is saying is the stand of the party," said a PDP leader.
It was informed further that Beg, who has virtually been cornered by the party, could again assume the post of the chief spokesman.
Meanwhile, Dr Beg didn't return calls from Early Times. |
