Apni Party's Altaf Bukhari: Seeking Electoral Fortunes In Chanapora (image:x.com/SMAltafBukhari)

In the forthcoming Assembly polls, former minister and Kashmir Apni Party (JKAP) chief Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari is contesting from Chanapora, a newly formulated assembly seat following delimitation. After filing his nominations, Bukhari communicated his vision for constituency—about transforming the segment through extensive infrastructure development and various initiatives.

Hailing from north Kashmir’s Baramulla district, Bukhari is an industrialist-turned-politician. He was the owner of family-run FIL Industries, Asia’s third largest fruit juice concentrate manufacturing unit.

Also Read | J&K Assembly Polls: Congress Chief Announces Five Guarantees

One of the state’s notable businessmen, Bukhari’s second innings as a politician started when he joined the PDP in 2004. He served as the PDP’s treasurer for many years and was considered close to the party founder and former chief minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed.

In his maiden assembly election in 2014, he won the assembly election from Amira Kadal by defeating the sitting National Conference (NC) MLA Nasir Aslam Wani by a margin of 5341 votes. Following, he handled crucial ministerial portfolios in the PDP-BJP coalition government. The swift flow in the political trajectory hit a roadblock when the alliance government got dissolved in 2018.

Even though he was considered a frontrunner for the post of Chief Minister, supported by the PDP, NC, and Congress, he did not secure the position. This marked a remarkable shift in the career of one of the most influential PDP leaders, prompting him to advance new political strategies.

In 2019, he was expelled from the party for “anti-party activities. As a significant turn, Bukhari, along with former ministers and legislators who left PDP, floated the new political outfit JKAP in 2020. PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti, and Bukhari now share the relationship as of rivals; both do not leave any chance to attack each other.

Also Read | Congress Fields Lal Singh, Supporter Of Kathua Case Accused, For J&K Assembly Polls

In the past, the senior leader has served on the Board of Directors of the National Horticulture Board, on the Board of Governors of the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Delhi, and on the Board of Management of the Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agriculture Sciences and Technology, in Jammu and Kashmir.