Srinagar: The turmoil in Mehbooba Mufti's Peoples Democratic Party claimed its first political casualty on Monday after her uncle and deputy Sartaj Madni resigned, giving in to growing calls to end the family's control over the party.

Five party MLAs and two members of the legislative council have openly rebelled against Mehbooba's leadership, alleging that she had turned the PDP into a family fief after fighting for years against the National Conference's dynastic rule.

Madni told The Telegraph he has submitted his resignation as PDP vice-president to Mehbooba, the party's chief.

"I have submitted my resignation in the larger interests of the party and for strengthening the party," he said.

Madni was among five near and distant relatives of Mehbooba who had an iron grip on either the party or the government she led in alliance with the BJP before it collapsed last month.

The others include Mehbooba's brother Tasaduq Mufti, who was tourism minister in her government; distant relatives Naeem Akhtar, her former works minister, and Peerzada Mansoor, her political secretary; and Farooq Andrabi, her uncle and a former minister. Barring Andrabi, none of the others is a member of the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly.

The party fears the dissidents might float a separate group and join hands with the BJP and some of its allies to form a new government in the state, now under governor's rule.

Mehbooba has warned the BJP against splitting her party, claiming more Salahuddins would be born if that happens. The Hizbul Mujahideen chief, who is based in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, had contested the 1987 Assembly elections that are believed to have been rigged and played a role in starting the insurgency here.

Party sources said Mehbooba asked Madni to resign after she met a cross-section of party leaders, many of whom fiercely opposed "the family raj".

Madni - Mehbooba's maternal uncle - is one of the PDP's founding members. Sources said Madni was sidelined by Mehbooba's father, former chief minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, after he lost the 2014 Assembly elections to the Congress's Mohammad Amin Bhat. But he staged a comeback following the Mufti's death in 2016 and Mehbooba's coronation as chief minister later.

He was twice elected to the Assembly in 2002 and 2008 and had served as deputy Speaker during the Mufti's earlier tenure.

Mehbooba had faced embarrassment early this year after Madni's son, Syed Aroot Madni, got the plum job of executive officer in the autonomous Khadi Village and Industries Board (KVIB), allegedly through the backdoor.

Mehbooba had to order a probe and the party also claimed that Aroot declined the offer.

Abdul Raheem Rather, the PDP's Kokernag MLA who does not count himself among the rebels but favours changes in the party, said Madni's resignation was a welcome step and demanded action against the others.

"Mere resignation is not enough. They have given a bad name to the party for which they should be punished," Rather told this newspaper.

Rather said such a move might not only prevent further dissent but could also pave the way for reconciliation.

"(Otherwise) our party is on the verge of breaking.... By such measures we can convince others to come back," he said.

Madni's resignation comes days ahead of the PDP's foundation day ceremony on July 28. The party is planning a grand show to dispel any notion of disunity within its ranks.