ANANTNAG, November 16: In a major jolt to ruling National Conference ahead of the assembly elections, veteran leader and former MP Dr. Mehboob Beg today quit the party and extended unconditional support to his PDP rival Mufti Mohammad Sayeed. Beg, son of National Conference stalwart Mirza Afzal Beg, announced his decision to quit the party at a workers meet at his residence at Sarnal in Anantnag town. He also turned down the NC mandate given to him to contest the elections from Anantnag assembly segment, which is going to polls in the fourth phase of elections on December 14. “I extend unconditional support to Mufti Mohammad Sayeed (PDP candidate from Anantnag) as he is the only person who can halt the BJP’s march in Kashmir,” Beg told the workers. Beg, however, said he will not be joining the PDP. Giving reasons for his quitting the ruling party, Beg said he was never taken into confidence by the party leadership and his suggestions on organisational matters and development works in Anantnag were ignored. Lashing out at NC ministers in the state government, Beg, who was Health Minister in GM Shah -led Government from 1984 to 86 , alleged that they were worried only about their own constituencies. “One minister would look after development of constituency of another minister and vice versa. Since Anantnag had no minister, it got neglected in terms of development,” he said.
Posted on: Mon, 17 Nov 2014 04:47:12 +0000