Haseeb Drabu, former Jammu and Kashmir finance minister, quits PDP

Days after high-voltage political drama over Jammu and Kashmir Assembly dissolution, former finance minister Haseeb Drabu resigned from the Mehbooba Mufti-led People’s Democratic Party (PDP) on Thursday. Taking to Twitter, Drabu announced his resignation along with a copy of his letter to PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti. "Bidding Adieu to PDP. Another phase of live over," Drabu captioned his tweet.

"It has been exactly four and a half years since I joined the J&K PDP. I may not have enjoyed every moment of it, but when I look back at it, it has been an enriching and enlightening association," the letter read.

Terming his journey with the PDP a slice of "full life", Drabu said it had its fair share of highs and lows, successes and failures, appreciations and condemnation, contentment and frustrations, and agreements and disagreements.

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"There are many things that I am thankful for, many more I am grateful and yet much more that I am distressed about. A slice of full life in itself as it were!" he wrore.

Drabu also took a stroll down his political days with PDP patron Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, remembering how the former CM of Jammu and Kashmir sought him out and brought him into politics.

"Working with him made me realise that politics is not the 'last refuge of scoundrels'! Occasionally, people with intellectual integrity, personal honesty and moral courage can also be found here. I was exceptionally lucky to have worked with him". I just hope that when history judges Mufti sahib and his decision to ally with the BJP, it does so in the context and with the complexity that it deserves," Drabu added in his letter.

Bidding Adieu to PDP. Another phase of life over. pic.twitter.com/r5YbZoYRYb

— Haseeb Drabu (@HaseebDrabu) December 6, 2018

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Drabu’s resignation came on the heels of his removal from the Finance ministry in a cabinet reshuffle in May this year. After Imran Ansari, he is the second leader to abandon the party after Governor Satypal Malik dissolved the state assembly on November 21. 

Apart from his contribution to the arena of politics, Drabu is a well known economist and also served as chairman of the Jammu and Kashmir Bank.