Peoples Democratic Party chief Mehbooba Mufti on Sunday said that her party is willing to support a Congress-National Conference (NC) alliance in the upcoming Jammu and Kashmir elections, provided they are ready to accept the PDP’s agenda.

“The people of Jammu and Kashmir have given an answer to the BJP government from the Lok Sabha polls that there are issues in Jammu and Kasmir and by removing Article 370, it has become more complicated…Whenever we allied with any party we had a motive, an agenda—what we have to do…That’s why I said that if they (Congress) are ready to accept our agenda, we are ready to support them,” Mehbooba Mufti told reporters.

Earlier, on August 24, Mehbooba Mufti remarked that for her, the upcoming assembly election in Jammu and Kashmir is not about statehood or seat sharing but a “bigger goal.”

During a press conference to launch the PDP manifesto for the upcoming assembly polls, Mehbooba Mufti said, “For me, this election (upcoming Assembly elections in J&K) is not about statehood or seat sharing… We have a bigger goal… We are fighting for dignity, for resolution.”

She further noted that alliances and seat sharing “are distant considerations” and indicated that if the National Conference and Congress are willing to adopt her agenda, she would support them, as “solving the problem of Kashmir is more important than anything else.”

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 Mehbooba 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.

Polling in Jammu and Kashmir will be conducted in three phases on September 18, 25, and October 1, according to the Election Commission of India. The counting of votes will take place on October 4.

These are the first assembly elections to be held in Kashmir after the abrogation of Article 370.
 

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

Peoples Democratic Party chief Mehbooba Mufti on Saturday said that for her, the upcoming assembly election in Jammu and Kashmir is not for statehood or seat sharing but for a “bigger goal.”

During the press conference for the launch of the PDP manifesto for the upcoming assembly polls, Mehbooba Mufti said, “For me, this election (upcoming Assembly elections in J&K) is not for statehood or seat sharing… We have a bigger goal… We are fighting for dignity, for the resolution.”

She further said that alliance and seat sharing “are faraway things” and stated that if the National Conference and Congress are ready to adopt her agenda, then she will support them because for her, “solving the problem of Kashmir is more important than anything else.”

She further criticised the alliance between Congress and the National Conference, stating that the alliance is formed not on agenda but seat-sharing.

“When we allied earlier, we had an agenda; when we allied with the BJP, we had an agenda which they agreed to but the alliance between the National Conference and Congress is not happening on the agenda; it is happening on seat sharing. We will not do any alliance in which there is only talk of seat sharing. The alliance should be on agenda and our agenda is to solve the problem of Jammu and Kashmir,” she said.

In their election manifesto, the PDP promised efforts to restore Articles 370 and 35A and diplomatic initiatives between India and Pakistan and ensure the dignified return of Kashmiri Pandits to the valley.

According to the manifesto, the PDP “is resolute in its pursuit of restoring the constitutional guarantees that were unjustly scrapped and is committed to restoring Jammu & Kashmir to its original status, ensuring that the voices of its people are heard and their rights are safeguarded.”

The party also promised to advocate “diplomatic initiatives between India and Pakistan, emphasising conflict resolution, confidence-building measures, and regional cooperation” and the establishment of “full connectivity across the LoC for trade and social exchange.”

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

PDP chief spokesperson Suhail Bukhari Tuesday quit the party ahead of the assembly polls in Jammu and Kashmir.

Suhail Bukhari told PTI he has quit the PDP, but he did not elaborate further. Suhail Bukhari was apparently miffed at not being given the mandate to contest the polls.

He had hoped to contest the polls from Wagoora-Kreeri, but the return of former minister Basharat Bukhari to the PDP last month diminished his chances of getting the ticket.

Suhail Bukhari, a journalist-turned-politician, was a close aide of PDP president Mehbooba Mufti and had also served as her advisor when she was the chief minister

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)