The elections are due for the assemblies and the once prominent party in Jammu and Kashmir especially in those regions is the People Democratic party (PDP) has been in one of the worst positions regarding polls. The PDP fared well in the 2014 general elections becoming the single largest union and later forging an alliance with BJP but it has not been the same story from then.
The other mistake was that in joining up with BJP although this was a highly contentious move given the fact that the PDP had much difference both politically and ideologically with the BJP, this impacted negatively causing the PDP to lose the support of a major chunk of its loyal electorate. This was made worse by the break of the alliance in 2018, which saw the imposition of President’s rule in the region. After that, the PDP has failed to win over the confidence of the masses especially in the Kashmir valley where it had a huge support base.
Today, as Jammu and Kashmir prepares for its first assembly elections in a decade the PDP is facing a tough four-cornered contest. These competitors include NC and Congress alliance, BJP and a range of others including some independents and small regional parties which are supported by groups such as Jamaat-e-Islami Kashmir. This kind of fragmented political system is not very favorable to the PDP as it is next to impossible to predict the way to success.
This was accompanied by poor performance in the 2024 parliamentary elections whereby the PDP performed dismally by not capturing any seat in parliament. This loss further reduced the party position in the newly increasing competitive political system of Jammu and Kashmir. Now with the upcoming elections the PDP is ready for a four or five sided contest with the National Conference (NC), BJP, and the newly emerging Jammu and Kashmir Apni Party among others.
The party, under the leadership of Mehbooba Mufti has the twin drawback of rebuilding the party image and regaining the lost voter base while dealing with newer political entrants who have come into existence during the time when there was no elected government in the region. The strategy for the PDP has probably aligned towards proving the party’s relevance from the side of putting up a defense from the central government decision that downgraded the special status of Jammu and Kashmir in the year 2019 as well as attending to issues within the region that depict the concerns of the electorate.
An election in this region, which often sees fluidity in political loyalties, could mean the PDP’s survival in this election resting on the party’s capacity to leave behind controversies plaguing it and to sell the dream of Jammu & Kashmir to its public. Whether it will achieve this feat in this rather steep climb is yet to be ascertained.
