The Ghulam Nabi Azad-led coalition government in Jammu and Kashmir is again in deep crisis following the resignation of senior PDP leader and minister Qazi Mohammad Afzal. Qazi had created a history of sorts in 2002 assembly polls by defeating National Conference president Omar Abdullah from Ganderbal constituency.

Azad had divested Qazi of forest, environment and ecology portfolios some days back. Housing and urban development portfolio was retained to him. While no reason was officially given for divesting of his portfolios, but an impression was unofficially created that he was involved in corruption. PDP denied the allegation and alleged that Qazi had refused to favour some of Azad’s men.

Qazi resigned two days after Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had hosted a dinner for Azad, PDP patron Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, and president Mehbooba Mufti in New Delhi to sort out the differences between the coalition partners.

In his resignation letter Qazi said, “Taking away the forest portfolio from me in a rash manner and the mode of its public disclosure has not only put a question mark on my credibility as a minister but has also hit at the very roots of the basic understanding about the working of the coalition arrangement.”