Former Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir, Mehbooba Mufti, announced on April 3 that her Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) is engaged in discussions with its leaders and workers regarding contesting all three Lok Sabha seats in the Kashmir Valley
Mufti’s statement comes in response to the National Conference’s nomination of Mian Altaf from the Anantnag-Rajouri Lok Sabha constituency, a seat the PDP was anticipating would be within its reach.
Both the National Conference and PDP are part of the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA), formed last year to challenge the Narendra Modi-led BJP government at the Centre.
“National Conference left us with no option but to contest all three Lok Sabha seats in the Kashmir Valley. We are currently in discussions with our workers, and a decision will be announced soon,” stated Mehbooba Mufti.
She highlighted the challenging circumstances in Jammu and Kashmir post the abrogation of Article 370, emphasizing the need for unity among parties to address the issues facing the region.
“Thousands of youngsters are detained, journalists are facing charges, and the voices of the people are being suppressed in Jammu and Kashmir. It would have been preferable to contest these elections together,” Mufti remarked.
Reflecting on her recent interactions with Farooq Abdullah during the Bharat Jodo Nyaya Yatra’s conclusion ceremony in Mumbai, Mufti expressed disappointment at the unilateral decision-making process regarding candidate nominations.
“I expected Farooq Abdullah, being senior, to consider the interests of all parties and speak beyond party lines. If they believed they had stronger voices, they could have discussed with us earlier,” she lamented.
Mufti underscored the need for a collaborative approach to address the challenges facing the region, expressing dismay over Omar Abdullah’s remarks and their impact on PDP workers.
“In the past five years, the BJP has caused divisions within my party and poached many prominent leaders. Omar Abdullah’s comments have deeply hurt my workers who have been steadfast in their support,” Mufti concluded.