Jammu: Jammu and Kashmir Minister for Hajj and Auqaf Syed Farooq Andrabi resigned on Thursday, official sources said.
There are reports that chief minister Mehbooba Mufti is likely to make him tourism minister, a portfolio which is currently with her.
The sources said Andrabi’s resignation was a prelude to the inclusion of Mehbooba Mufti’s brother Sayeed Tasaduq Mufti into the Cabinet.
Married to Mehbooba Mufti’s aunt, Andrabi represents Dooru seat in south Kashmir’s Anantnag district in the assembly.
In the 2014 elections, as Peoples Democratic Party candidate, Andrabi defeated Congress state unit chief Ghulam Ahmad Mir.
Tasaduq Mufti’s name has been forwarded by the government for nomination to the upper house of the bicameral legislature.
The sources said the resignation sent to Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti had been forwarded for acceptance to Governor N.N. Vohra.
Tassaduq, the youngest son of late Mufti Muhammad Sayeed, joined politics following his fathers demise in 2016.
A cinematographer by profession, 45-year-old Tassaduq Mufti was fielded by Peoples Democratic Party as its candidate for Anantnag Lok Sabha by-elections. The elections were postponed a number of times as the state government refuses to give a green signal to the Election Commission citing unfavourable atmosphere prevailing in South Kashmir.
Tassaduq was later appointed as coordinator of Chief Ministers grievance cell, a platform set-up by the government for redressal of public grievances.
Induction of Tassaduq Mufti in the cabinet will further consolidate Mehbooba Muftis hold on the party her father founded a decade ago. She was recently re-elected party president for record sixth term.
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