The People’s Democratic Party (PDP), a regional force in Jammu and Kashmir, is reportedly gearing up to nominate Iltija Mufti, the daughter of former Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti, for the Anantnag Lok Sabha constituency. Insights from within the party suggest that this move aims to establish Mehbooba’s daughter within the state’s political landscape through her constitutional position.
However, the two major alliance partners (Congress and National Conference) of PDP under People’s Alliance of Gupkar Declaration (PAGD) and I.N.D.I.A bloc may have their reservations at local level about their (PDP’s) legitimacy to contest the seat in pre-poll alliance.
Both the parties believe that their vote bank has eroded after allying with the ideologically opposite party BJP. This has subsequently reduced their political standing to an extent that the party does not have any leverage to seek even one Lok Sabha seat. The Anantnag Lok Sabha constituency is currently occupied by NC candidate (Hasnain Masoodi). Sensing the internal opposition to the alliance, according to party insiders, the PDP chief may be making considerable efforts in a broad based opposition bloc to increase her presence in national politics which has allowed her to be frequently in the eyes of Rahul Gandhi so that when the time of seat distribution comes, the decisions of local leadership of Congress would be overshadowed by the Gandhi scion’s instruction to give PDP the share of one seat.
A party leader said, “She has been supporting Rahul Gandhi directly at the top of her voice. Every time she is being asked about anything political she either praises Rahul Gandhi or she tries to project Rahul Gandhi as a saviour. Therefore, it seems like she is firmly holding onto the court tails of the Gandhi scion in a hope that she will get at least one ticket of Anantnag LS constituency in alliance. And then it will be easy for her daughter to win the seat as there would be no significant opposition she would be facing.”
PDP spokesperson Mohit Bhan said to The Sunday Guardian, “That is for the parliamentary committee to decide the chairman of the parliamentary committee is Taj Madni and and there is this entire parliamentary board which will decide on the candidates will fight which seat.”