40 days after resignation Ansari quietly returns as Sports Minister

JAMMU: Peoples Democratic Party legislator from Pattan Molvi Imran Raza Ansari, who had resigned from the Mehbooba Mufti cabinet to protest 'lighter' portfolio, has returned to work as Minister with same department and same conditions as before resignation.
Imran Raza Ansari and Syed Basharat Bukhari had resigned on February 17 over the issue of their portfolios. Bukhari, who had the high profile department of Revenue, was angry over allocation of Horticulture department. Ansari had requested for elevation of his department as he considered the Youth and Sports Affairs a less significant portfolio.
After being persuaded by senior leaders on Chief Minister's behalf, Bukhari had withdrawn his resignation and return to his office on February 20, though with no change in department. However, Ansari remained adamant on his demand. While Ansari left for a religious pilgrimage to Iran, his uncle Abid Ansari, also PDP MLA from Zadibal, accused many top leaders in the party for the fiasco.
Over a month after the high profile resignation, now Ansari has quietly returned as Minister without any change in his portfolio. Though he hasn't come down to Jammu, where the civil secretariat is currently functioning, but on Monday he formally began to take up official activities as Minister.
On Monday he Ansari conducted an extensive tour to Pattan constituency, during which he took stock of various facilities being provided to the people. "District Development Commissioner Baramulla, Chief Engineer PHE, Joint Director planning, SDM Pattan, AEEs, Xens of line Departments and other concerned accompanied the Minister", said an official spokesman.
Much before withdrawing his resignation 'in principle', Ansari was seen at a forefront of ongoing Lok Sabha elections campaign in Kashmir even as his uncle Abid continued to criticise party leaders, mainly Works Minister Naeem Akhtar.