Saifuddin Soz

Soz was leader of the Jammu and Kashmir National Conference from 1984 to 1999.

Educationist, economist, writer, political and social worker, 69-year old Soz was elected to the Lok Sabha in 1983 and represents the sensitive state of Jammu and Kashmir in the Union Cabinet after the exit of Ghulam Nabi Azad, who has since become the state Chief Minister.

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Soz was leader of the Jammu and Kashmir National Conference from 1984 to 1999.

He hit the national headlines when he differed with his party chief Farooq Abdullah and voted against the then Vajpayee Government, defying the party whip, and bringing down the 13-month BJP-led coalition.

Soz joined the Congress thereafter and was elected to the Rajya Sabha in 2004. He has served several parliamentary and consultative committees with distinction and has written extensively on subjects ranging from Islam to literature.