4th ex-MLA quits party!

SRINAGAR: Former PDP MLA from Tangmarg Mohammad Abbas Wani Monday resigned from the basic membership of the party, a development expected following his support to a rebel group led by former minister Imran Ansari.

He is the fourth PDP leader to have announced his resignation from the party.

Besides Wani, others who have resigned include Imran Ansari, his uncle Abid Ansari and former finance minister Haseeb Drabu.

In a letter to party president Mehbooba Mufti, Wani informed her about his decision to resign from the basic membership of the party, a close aide of the former MLA said.

Led by Ansari, Wani was among the five MLAs who revolted against Mehbooba's leadership in the wake of the PDP-BJP coalition government falling apart in June.

Wani is likely to join the Sajad Gani Lone-led People's Conference. Lone had made an unsuccessful attempt to form a government with the support of the BJP and rebel PDP MLAs last month before Governor Satya Pal Malik dissolved the Assembly.