Three days after his People's Democratic Party raised the demand for his ouster, Jammu and Kashmir Deputy Chief Minister Muzaffar Hussain Baig on Sunday tendered his resignation from the council of ministers.

Baig called on Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad at his residence in Srinagar on Sunday evening and put up his papers.

In the brief resignation letter, Baig said, "I am grateful to you for the trust and confidence you reposed in me during our association in the Council of Ministers.

"I have taken this decision for three reasons, first, since my party (PDP) has withdrawn me as a nominee, it would be morally and politically wrong for me to wish to remain a minister.

"Secondly, it is only right that the issue of my remaining a minister should not become a matter of conflict between the coalition partners (Congress-PDP). It is my duty to ensure that.

"Finally, it has never been my goal to occupy the chair of power simply for the sake of power. I humbly believe that I can render service to the public even without being a minister."