The recent assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir were an ominous foretelling for the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) as the party which once held a strong foothold in J&K, faced a challenging outcome, reflecting a shift in the political landscape.
One of the most notable results was the defeat of Iltija Mufti, a high-profile candidate and daughter of PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti in the the Srigufwara-Bijbehara constituency. Iltija lost a traditional stronghold of the Mufti family by over 9,000 votes to Basheer Ahmad Shah Veeri of the National Conference. This loss was emblematic of the PDP’s overall poor performance, securing only 3 out of the 90 seats in the assembly.
Despite the overall dismal performance, the PDP did manage to secure victories in a few constituencies in J&K- Waheed Para won from the Pulwama constituency, Mir Mohammad Fayaz secured a win in Kupwara and Rafiq Ahmad Naik emerged victorious in Tral.
Trailing by a margin of 4,334 votes, Iltija Mufti graciously accepted the people’s verdict. She expressed her gratitude towards the PDP workers and the affection she received from the people of Bijbehara, stating, “The love and affection I received from everyone in Bijbehara will always stay with me.”
The Mufti family had previously won the Srigufwara-Bijbehara seat four times consecutively. However, this election cycle saw a considerable amount of anti-incumbency sentiment, which contributed to the National Conference’s Basheer Ahmad Shah Veeri winning the seat with 33,299 votes.
The PDP would have hoped to achieve a double-digit tally to establish itself as a viable opposition party in J&K. The single-digit finish, compounded by the absence of any Mufti family member in the assembly, poses a significant challenge. The fact that the party leader Mehbooba Mufti did not contest and her daughter Iltija’s loss from Bijbehara, highlight the party’s current predicament.
Despite these setbacks, the PDP aims to reconnect with the masses and make a comeback. As the party marks its 24th year in 2024, it faces an existential threat but remains hopeful. Mehbooba Mufti stated, “These ups and downs are part of the political journey of a party. But PDP has a vision and an agenda, and that will help us go forward with hope.”
Alliance with BJP
In 2014, the PDP had formed a coalition with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) after failing to secure a majority. The PDP emerged as the single largest party with 28 seats but needed the BJP’s 25 seats to form a government. This coalition aimed to bridge the regional divide between the Kashmir Valley and the Jammu region, bringing together diverse aspirations under a common governance framework.
Aam Aadmi Party’s Surprise Win
In a surprising turn, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) won a seat in Jammu and Kashmir, with Mehraj Malik securing the Doda assembly constituency. This victory adds to AAP’s presence in five state legislatures. Malik, a district development council member, won with 23,228 votes against BJP’s Gajay Singh Rana, who garnered 18,690 votes.
NC plays a blinder with faith and politics
Analysts attribute a major part of NC-Congress’s success to the unification of the Muslim Vote. The NC’s campaign was bolstered by the presence of two respected clerics from different Muslim sects, Lok Sabha MPs Mian Altaf Ahmad of Anantnag-Rajouri and Syed Aga Ruhullah Mehdi of Srinagar, who had been a major part of Omar Abdullah’s campaign across J&K. This strategy helped the Omar Abdullah-led outfit to outperform the PDP, newcomers, and independents.
Manbilas Singh is a talented writer and journalist who focuses on the finer details in every story and values integrity above everything. A self-proclaimed sleuth, he strives to expose the fine print behind seemingly mundane activities and aims to uncover the truth that is hidden from the general public. In his time away from work, he is a music aficionado and a nerd who revels in video & board games, books and Formula 1.
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