Is Imran Ansari still a minister?

Amit Khajuria

Tribune News Service

Jammu, March 27

Minister for Sports and Information Technology Imran Ansari, who resigned on February 17 in protest against the denial of a “good portfolio” to him, has not attended his office for over a month now. There is no clue as to what his status is as neither his resignation has been accepted nor rejected.

Sources said during the two meetings he had with Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti to iron out the differences, he was assured of a “fair deal”. However, there has been no word whether the minister had withdrawn his February 17 resignation or the Chief Minister has rejected it.

As per the Constitution, a minister has to attend his office though he can go on a tour or take leave. Nothing like this has happened. Ansari has also not attended any official meeting even after his return from the pilgrimage that he undertook within days of submitting his resignation.

On his return, he maintained that he would not withdraw the resignation as “there were more issues beyond the change of portfolio”. However, after his second meeting with the Chief Minister in Srinagar on last Sunday, he has started campaigning in the favour of PDP candidate from Srinagar Nazir Khan.

Ansari has influence over Shia voters in the Srinagar-Budgam parliamentary constituency, where the PDP is pitted against National Conference president Farooq Abdullah. Former MP Tariq Hameed Karra is supporting Farooq.