SRINAGAR: For Jammu and Kashmir it is another son rise in politics after 45-year-old Tasaduq Mufti Sayeed, son of former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister late Mohammad Mohammad Sayeed, on Saturday jumped into active politics by joining the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on the first death anniversary of his father.
Tasaduq, a famed cinematographer, announced the joining of PDP in presence of his sister and J&K Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti as the party observed the first death anniversary of its patron and former Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed today.
"I have remained away from politics all my life. However, today I have joined the PDP," he said while officially announcing his joining active politics during a function at the Indoor Stadium, here attended by CM Mehbooba, PDP leaders and workers.
Tasaduq said he is not joining PDP for being a son of late Mufti Sayeed but only after being inspired by the amount of work the party has done for the state and people of Jammu and Kashmir.
"My dream is to clean Kashmir politics and speed up the pace of development work as I have felt it is difficult to realize dreams with the pace of government work, the speed with which things happen here," he said and thanked the party workers for their love and affection towards PDP.
Tassaduq, who shuttles between Bengaluru and Mumbai, is best known for his cinematography work in Bollywood movies like ‘Omkara’ and ‘Kaminey’.
After Mufti Sayeed’s death on January 7 last year, there were speculations that Tasaduq may join active politics to assist his sister and CM Mehbooba Mufti in handling the party affairs and government.
Sources in PDP said it was on the insistence of his sister and CM Mehbooba and other family members that Tassaduq finally agreed to join politics.
"Mehbooba and other family members were trying to convince him to join active politics since last year. However, he was initially reluctant to plunge into active politics. But with the passage of time, Mehbooba and other family members managed to convince him to join the politics," they said.
With the joining of active politics by Tassaduq, who won the Zee Cine and Star Screen awards for Best Cinematographer in 2006 for Omkara, there are speculations that he or his cousin Mufti Sajjad may contest the parliamentary elections from Pulwama-Anantnag constituency, which fell vacant after Mehbooba resigned from the seat following her taking over as Chief Minister of the State after her father’s death.
The polls for Pulwama-Anantnag Lok Sabha seat may be held in April-May this year.
It remains to be seen what position in the party is given to Tasaduq.
