J&K Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti Friday faced a piquant situation as two senior Cabinet Ministers reportedly tendered their resignations hours after she expanded her Council of Ministers by reinducting senior party legislator from Srinagar Syed Mohd Altaf Bukhari after a gap of more than 12 months.
Bukhari's name was dropped from the Council of Ministers after Mehbooba had taken oath in April 2016.
Soon after the brief oath taking ceremony was over Revenue, Relief and Rehabilitation Minister Basharat Bukhari tendered his resignation.He also skipped the oath ceremony after his official car was stopped from entering the Raj Bhawan premises by the security personnel. Few guests travelling with Bukhari in his car did not have valid invitation cards.
According to sources close to Bukhari he tendered his resignation after he learnt he was stripped of his portfolio in the reshuffle by Mehbooba Mufti. He was made Horticulture minister. late evening media reports claimed InformationTechnology and Youth Affairs, Sports Minister Imran Raza Ansari had also tendered his resignation. But official State Government spokesman told The Pioneer the Chief Ministers office had not received the resignation of Ansari so far.
Commenting on the resignation of Basharat Bukhari the spokesman clarified “since he has himself made this announcement so I cannot comment.”