Mehbooba Mufti had earlier said on August 24 that she would be running for assembly in Jammu and Kashmir, not for statehood or seat sharing, but for a “bigger goal.”
Mehbooba Mufti, the leader of the Peoples Democratic Party, stated on Sunday that her party is prepared to back an alliance between the Congress and the National Conference (NC) in the upcoming elections in Jammu and Kashmir, given that they are prepared to embrace the PDP’s platform.
“The people of Jammu and Kashmir have responded to the BJP government by stating in the Lok Sabha elections that there are problems in the region and that the removal of Article 370 has made matters worse…Every time we formed an alliance with a political party, we had a goal in mind—what needed to be done.For this reason, Mehbooba Mufti told reporters, “We are prepared to support them if they (Congress) are ready to accept our agenda.”
Mehbooba Mufti had earlier said on August 24 that she would be running for assembly in Jammu and Kashmir, not for statehood or seat sharing, but for a “bigger goal.”
Mehbooba Mufti declared, “For me, this election (the upcoming Assembly elections in J&K) is not about statehood or seat sharing…,” at a press conference to introduce the PDP manifesto for the contest. We’re aiming higher… We are fighting for justice and for dignity.”
She added that alliances and seat sharing “are distant considerations” and said she would support the National Conference and Congress if they agreed to implement her agenda because “solving the problem of Kashmir is more important than anything else.”
The PDP made a commitment to reinstate Articles 370 and 35A, start diplomatic talks between Pakistan and India, and guarantee the honorable repatriation of Kashmiri Pandits to their homeland in their election manifesto.
Notably, the PDP secured 28 seats, the BJP garnered 25, the Jammu and Kashmir National Conference secured 15, and the Congress secured 12 in the 2014 Assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir.
Mehbooba Mufti Mohammed Sayeed led a coalition government consisting of the PDP and BJP. Nonetheless, the BJP left the coalition in 2018 when Mehbooba Mufti assumed leadership after Mufti Mohammed Sayeed passed away.
According to the Election Commission of India, voting in Jammu and Kashmir will take place in three stages on September 18, 25, and October 1. On October 4, there will be a vote count.
After Article 370 was repealed, Kashmir is holding its first assembly elections.
