Syed Basharat Ahmed Bukhari

Syed Basharat Ahmad Bukhari (born 17 September 1962) is a broadcaster, poet and Former Cabinet Minister from Jammu and Kashmir, who has served as both a Member of the Legislative Council (MLC) and a Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) from the erstwhile Sangrama constituency.He has served as a minister holding key portfolios in the Government of Jammu and Kashmir, including Minister for Law, Justice, Parliamentary Affairs, Revenue, and Disaster Management, Relief, Rehabilitation and Reconstruction.

Early life and education Bukhari is from Kreeri, Baramulla district, Jammu and Kashmir. He is the son of Syed Rafi Ud din Bukhari. His wife is a teacher. He completed his B.A. in 1986 at a college affiliated with Kashmir University.

Career

Syed Basharat Ahmad Bukhari began his public career as a broadcaster at All India Radio Kashmir, gaining immense popularity due to his powerful and deep voice and the social service he provided through his programs. His widespread recognition as a broadcaster prompted Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, the then Chief Minister, to personally encourage him to join politics. Bukhari emerged as a prominent political figure from Sangrama in Baramulla district and went on to serve in both houses of the erstwhile state legislature. He was elected as a Member of the Legislative Council (MLC) in 2004 and served until 2008, when he won his first election as a Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) from the now defunct Sangrama Assembly constituency, representing the Jammu and Kashmir Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). He was re-elected as MLA from the same constituency in 2014, securing 12,127 votes and defeating Shuib Nabi Lone of the Indian National Congress by a margin of 1,754 votes. During his tenure in government, Bukhari served as a cabinet minister in the Government of Jammu and Kashmir, holding key portfolios including Law, Justice, Parliamentary Affairs, Revenue, Horticulture, and Disaster Management, Relief, Rehabilitation and Reconstruction. In these roles, he was involved in legislative business, governance, and post-disaster relief and reconstruction efforts in the erstwhile state. In the 2024 Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly election he lost from Wagoora-Kreeri.