In a major setback for Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chief Mehbooba Mufti, three more founding leaders - Dhaman Bhasin, Fallail Singh, and Pritam Kotwal - resigned from the party on Thursday.

"We've no option but to quit the party which has been hijacked by unscrupulous, communal elements with a mysterious character," their resignation letter stated.

"Apart from becoming the B team of the National Conference (NC), the party leadership has recently given some highly provocative and controversial statements against the basic principles of the founder of the party," it added.

This comes days after three founding members of PDP - including former Rajya Sabha MP T.S. Bajwa, resigned from the party, saying they were feeling “uncomfortable and suffocated” due to party chief Mehbooba Mufti’s “undesirable utterances”, especially those which “hurt patriotic sentiments”.

Speaking to Times Now, Pritam Kotwal said the rebel leaders do not align with the stand which Mehbooba Mufti took in the recent past including her comment on the Indian flag. "After the demise of Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, the PDP indulged in activities that don't match with our policy/agenda. We have no other option, but to resign," another rebel PDP leader Daman Bhasin said.