PDP to contest in all Lok Sabha seats in Kashmir, says Mehbooba Mufti

Mehbooba Mufti announces PDP will contest Lok Sabha seats in Kashmir after NC's unilateral decision, emphasizing unity in J&K.

Mehbooba Mufti, on April 3, said INDIA bloc partner National Conference (NC) has left the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) with no other option other than to contest the election on the three Lok Sabha seats in Kashmir.

The NC recently announced it would field its candidates on all three seats. The NC left two seats in Jammu for the Congress as part of the INDIA bloc's seat-sharing agreement. "They (NC) have left no option for us other than to field candidates and contest the elections," Ms. Mufti told reporters in Srinagar. The party’s Parliamentary Board would take a final call on the candidates, the PDP chief added.

Ms. Mufti said the need of the hour for the political parties in Jammu and Kashmir was to remain united after the Centre revoked the erstwhile State's special status in August 2019.

"Youth are in jails, we cannot raise our voices, even the family members of employees cannot say anything. There is an atmosphere of oppression here. So, in such an atmosphere, it is imperative for us to stand united," she said.

The former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister, however, said the attitude of the NC leadership was disappointing and hurtful. “When the INDIA’s meeting took place in Mumbai, I said there that since (NC president) Farooq Abdullah is our senior leader, he will take a decision (on seat sharing) and will do justice. I had hoped he would keep the party interests aside,” she said.

But the NC decided to contest all three seats in Kashmir unilaterally, she added.

Mufti said if the NC had approached her and consulted the PDP before announcing the decision, her party could have decided not to field candidates in the larger interests of Kashmir.