Muzaffar Hussain Baig is an Indian politician from Kashmir. He was the former Deputy Chief Minister of the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir. On Republic Day of 2020 he received India's third highest civilian honour Padma Bhushan.[1][2]

Muzaffar Hussain Baig
Member of Parliament,Lok Sabha
In office
1 September 2014 – 23 May 2019
Preceded bySharifuddin Shariq
Succeeded byMohammad Akbar Lone
ConstituencyBaramulla
Deputy Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir state
In office
2 November 2005 – 11 July 2008
Preceded byMangat Ram Sharma
Succeeded byTara Chand
ConstituencyBaramulla
Chief-Patron of JKPDP
In office
December 11 2018 – November 14 2020
PresidentMehbooba Mufti
Succeeded byposition abolished
Personal details
Born (1946-05-08) 8 May 1946 (age 78)
Wahdina, Jammu and Kashmir, British India
Other political
affiliations
Jammu and Kashmir People's Democratic Party (Founding Member)
SpouseSafina Baig
ChildrenDaima
Dalyah
Alma materHarvard Law School
OccupationAdvocate General, Politician
AwardsPadma Bhushan
As of 20 June, 2021
Source: [1]

Baig was the founding member of Jammu and Kashmir People's Democratic Party led by Mufti Mohammad Sayeed and was named as Patron of the party post-Mufti's death in 2016.

Early life

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He was born in Wahidna, a small hilly village in Baramulla district of the Kashmir Valley. He received his master's degree from Harvard Law School.

Career

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He started his political career in 1996 with the Jammu and Kashmir People's Conference where he held the position of Vice-Chairman. In 2002, he fought the Legislative Assembly election with the Jammu and Kashmir People's Democratic Party and won from Baramulla constituency. He was reelected in 2008.[citation needed] He held the position of Law Minister and Parliamentary Affairs Minister in the state cabinet for the period 2002–2006. Until 2006 he was Deputy Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir.[3]

He served as Chief Spokesperson for the Jammu and Kashmir People's Democratic Party. He also worked in law firms in the United States and New Delhi in India. Baig served as Advocate General of the state of Jammu and Kashmir[4] from 1987 to 1989.

Baig was elected to the Lok Sabha in 2014 from Baramulla.

Due to differences between him and Mehbooba Mufti, that grew after the abrogation of Article 370, It was being allegedly said that Baig joined Sajjad Lone's Jammu and Kashmir People's Conference,[5][6] Peoples Conference disowns senior leader Muzaffar Hussain Baig. Party general secretary Imran Ansari said Baig never joined JKPC.

Awards

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In 2020, Baig was conferred the Padma Bhushan award, the third-highest civilian honor of India.[4][7]

References

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  1. ^ The Hindu Net Desk (26 January 2020). "Ex-PDP patron Muzaffar Hussain Baig join's Sajad's People Conference". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 27 January 2020.
  2. ^ The Hindu Net Desk (26 January 2020). "Full list of 2020 Padma awardees". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 25 May 2021.
  3. ^ "J&K: Hussain Baig appointed deputy chief minister". News18. Retrieved 20 June 2021.
  4. ^ a b Munshi, Suhas (25 January 2020). "PDP Co-founder Muzaffar Baig Honoured with Padma Bhushan". www.news18.com. Retrieved 26 January 2020.
  5. ^ "Ex-PDP patron Muzaffar Hussain Baig joins Sajad's People Conference". The Hindu. Retrieved 20 June 2021.
  6. ^ "After Muzaffar Hussain Baig's 'ghar wapsi', People's Conference eyes pan-Kashmir expansion". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 20 June 2021.
  7. ^ "Padma Awards 2020". padmaawards.gov.in. Retrieved 8 November 2021.