In a set back to the ruling PDP, party leader Nisar Ahmad Mandoo resigned from the party saying he cannot side with "bloodbath" of Kashmiris.
Mr Mandoo is the second prominent leader to resign in the wake of the ongoing unrest in Kashmir.
"I am resigning from the basic membership of the PDP as I cannot side with the bloodbath of Kashmiris," Mr Mandoo, who was senior vice president of the party's Srinagar unit, told reporters in Srinagar.
Mr Mandoo also cited "anti-people" policies of BJP-PDP coalition in the state as a reason for his resignation.
"I have been associated with PDP for the past 16 years. The party was formed to protect the lives and political dignity of people but today the party has deviated from these principles," he said.
Mr Mandoo is the second prominent leader of the ruling party to resign in the wake of the ongoing unrest in Kashmir that has left 81 persons dead and thousands of others injured.
Tariq Hameed Karra, founding member of the PDP and Lok Sabha member from Srinagar constituency, resigned from the party as well as the Parliament seat on September 15 over civilians' killings.
