Abdul Rashid Dar

Abdul Rashid Dar was a politician and lawyer from the state of Jammu & Kashmir, who served as the chairman of the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Council. Throughout his career Dar held several senior positions in the government. The Secretary General of Rajya Sabha R.C Tripathi in his book "Bicameralism Today" defines Dar as the lawyer with a shining career.". Dar started his career with the Jammu and Kashmir National Conference when he won the election from Shangus Anantnag and became an MLA. Dar holds distinction for being the only chairman two have won two consecutive terms. He also remains the longest serving chairman of Jammu and Kashmir.

In 1987 Dar contested from the Shangus seat of Anantnag district, defeating Maqbool Dar, who served as the Home minister (Mos) of India, Dar won the election and was elected MLA as a member of the National Conference representing the Shangus constituency of Anantanag .He served in the state assembly till the government was dismissed and the assembly was dissolved by Jagmohan the governor of Jammu and Kashmir. Later on in 1996 Dar was elected to the upper house the state Legislative council .

A.R Dar was elected to the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative council in 1996 as a member, just after two years he was elected as the deputy chairman of the house serving for a brief period. Even though he did not belong to the ruling party at that time Dar won another term in the council in 2001, in the same year he contested the election for the seat of the chairman of Jammu and Kashmir Legislative council, winning the election this time too, he became the Chairman of the council. Dar and the Jammu & Kashmir National Conference parted ways in 2004. Dar remained independent while also continuing to be the chairman of the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Council.

Public offices

Dar has held the following positions;

In 2004 a No confidence motion was moved against Chairman Dar the motion was introduced in the legislative council, the proceedings of the house were led by the deputy chairman Namgyal , the voting was conducted and once again Dar emerged as the winner and continued his term as the Chairman till 2009. After a continuous winning streak from 1987 Dar relinquished all offices in 2009.Dar died on 28 February 2020. His death was termed as a great loss for J&K. Dar had earned respect and admiration from his political opponents as well. All major leaders of Jammu and Kashmir including former Minister and founder of "Apni Party" Syed Muhammad Altaf Bukhari, MLA Pahalgam Rafi Ahmad Mir, Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC) president, G.A Mir ,Former Minister and ex State Congress president, Peerzada Muhammad Sayeed, Ex MLA Shangus, Gulzar Ahmad Wani, CPI (M) senior leader, Mohammed Yousuf Tarigami, Hakeem Muhamamd Yaseen, Ghulam Hassan Mir, JKNC spokesman Imran Nabi Dar, Manzoor Ganie and Chairman Political Migrants Front , Sheikh Mohi-ud Din, Shabnam expressed profound grief and shock over his demise.