SRINAGAR: Ahead of Assembly elections, former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti highlighted on August 28 that the basic agenda of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) is to provide the people of Jammu and Kashmir peace with dignity.
The PDP Chief also said that her party has always fought the elections on its own for the sake of the people.
“We have always fought alone. Ever since our party was formed, we have fought alone and with the support of the people. We have fought to remove the sufferings of the people here…,” Mufti told reporters.
“…The basic agenda of the PDP is to place Jammu and Kashmir into an era of dignity. To give peace with dignity. We are moving forward with that agenda. Whether someone is with us or not, people should be us,” the PDP President added.
She was responding to queries about the expectations of the PDP in the wake of pre-poll alliance of the Congress and the National Conference days ahead of the Assembly elections in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir.
Earlier Mehbooba Mufti said that “if the Congress-NC alliance are ready to accept PDP’s agenda they are ready to support them.”
In their election manifesto, the PDP promised efforts to restore Articles 370 and 35A, initiate diplomatic dialogues between India and Pakistan, and ensure the dignified return of Kashmiri Pandits to the valley.
Notably, in the 2014 Assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir, the PDP won 28 seats, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) won 25, the Jammu and Kashmir National Conference won 15, and the Congress won 12.
The PDP and BJP formed a coalition government led by Mufti Mohammed Sayeed. However, in 2018, the BJP withdrew its support from the alliance after Mehbooba Mufti took over following Mufti Mohammed Sayeed’s demise.
Jammu and Kashmir is expected to witness multi-cornered contests on most seats. It is the first assembly poll since the abrogation of Article 370. The Election Commission has issued notification for the first phase of elections in which 24 seats will go to the polls.
In the Lok Sabha elections held earlier this year, the BJP won both the seats in Jammu, again demonstrating its strong support in the region. The National Conference also won two seats. The votes will be counted on October 4.
