After significant setbacks in both the Lok Sabha and Assembly elections, Jammu and Kashmir Peoples Democratic Party (JKPDP) chief Mehbooba Mufti announced on Friday that the party's entire structure will be dissolved with immediate effect.
According to sources, the party’s new structure will be announced after discussions with senior leaders. The announcement was made at the JKPDP headquarters in Srinagar.
The former Chief Minister also congratulated the National Conference-Congress alliance for receiving the "people's mandate" following the Union Territory's Assembly elections on October 8.
Mehbooba was quoted saying, "Since people have given a clear mandate, no parties will now have an opportunity to ‘mess around.’ But if the election had resulted in a hung assembly, ‘tricks’ may have been used to defeat the mandate of the people."
“I am happy that the way people have voted is a kind of satisfaction. ‘Gadbad karna ka koi chance nahi hai ab’ (there is no chance to mess around now). It seemed that if the mandate was not clear, dirty tricks could have been used to defeat the people's will," she added.
In the recent Assembly elections, JKNC emerged as the single largest party with 42 seats, while its ideological rival, the BJP, won 29 seats from the Jammu region. The Congress secured 6 seats, and the PDP won 3.
“I congratulate the National Conference-Congress leadership; they have won spectacularly. I also want to congratulate the people of Jammu and Kashmir for voting for a stable government.
“The situation in Jammu and Kashmir has been dire since August 5, 2019, and people faced numerous problems. Forming a stable government was essential,” she said during a press conference.
Mufti also thanked PDP leaders and workers for their efforts during the campaign. “I would like to thank PDP workers and leaders for their efforts despite all the challenges. I appeal to them not to give up,” she said.
The poor performance in the polls has been attributed to the PDP’s position at the centre of controversy since the BJP-led government revoked Article 370 through a parliamentary amendment on August 5, 2019.
Experts noted that the Mehbooba Mufti-led PDP would need decades of hard work to build its influence in the Kashmir Valley and to restore public confidence.
The Assembly elections for Jammu and Kashmir's 90 seats were held in three phases: September 18, September 26, and October 1.
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