Srinagar, August 20, KDC: The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is experiencing significant turmoil as a wave of defections hits the party, with numerous leaders and activists abandoning PDP and joining Awami Ittehad Party (AIP) ahead of the crucial assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir.
Sources within the PDP told the Srinagar-based news agency Kashmir Dot Com that this political shift is worsened by the PDP’s recent list of constituency inchrages, which has caused widespread dissatisfaction.
The south Kashmir region, which includes Anantnag, Pulwama, and Shopian, has been the center of this rebellion.
“The internal discord started after PDP leadership, under Mehbooba Mufti, denied assembly tickets to several prominent former MLAs and District Development Council (DDC) members. The three lists released on Monday and Tuesday have intensified frustrations, leading to a significant departure of key PDP members,” the sources said.
Among the defectors are the party’s Chief Spokesperson Suhail Bukhari, Former MLA Ajaz Mir from Wachi, Dr. Harbaksh Singh from Tral, and dozens of others, including more than 12 DDC members.
Dr. Harbaksh Singh, Abdul Qayoom Mir from Kakpora (Pampore), Advocate GN Shaheen from Tral, and Dr. AR Khadim have joined AIP, led by Engineer Rashid, in Srinagar today. Their departure is a significant setback for PDP, especially in south Kashmir, where the party has historically had strong support.
“Former MLA Ajaz Mir left the PDP after a controversial decision by the party to replace him with Mehbooba Mufti’s former PA, Ghulam Mohiddin. This decision led Mir to resign along with hundreds of his supporters, many of whom were loyal to Mehbooba Mufti. Mir’s exit shows the dissatisfaction with PDP’s internal decisions, including replacing experienced leaders with less experienced ones,” sources told Kashmir Dot Com.
The revolt against PDP is further highlighted by the frustration of Bilal Ahmad, a DDC member from Ganderbal. Ahmad’s discontent with PDP’s decision to field Bashir Mir has led him to quit PDP, and he is likely to join AIP.
This change indicates a broader shift in political loyalties and highlights the growing influence of AIP in the region.
Sources close to the political scene suggest that more former ministers, ex-MLAs, and ex-DDC members are expected to join AIP in the coming days.
“The scale of the rebellion is such that tracking the exact number of defectors has become difficult,” said a senior political leader.
This upheaval within PDP is reminiscent of the party’s earlier troubles, particularly after the abrogation of Article 370 in 2020, which led to a mass exodus of around 40 leaders to form the Apni Party led by businessman Altaf Bukhari.
The recent parliamentary elections further highlighted PDP’s declining fortunes, with Mehbooba Mufti and Waheed Para losing to National Conference candidates Mian Altaf and Aga Ruhullah, respectively. Additionally, PDP’s Fayaz Mir lost his security deposit in North Kashmir, receiving only just over 30,000 votes.
PDP’s poor performance in the Lok Sabha elections, where it won only three assembly segments in south Kashmir by narrow margins and faced defeats in other segments by large margins, has worsened its situation.
Political analysis beleive that the current revolt is likely to further weaken the party’s base, especially with the growing appeal of AIP, which has already made significant gains in North Kashmir.
“Engineer Rashid’s strong performance in the recent Lok Sabha elections, where he secured over 4.7 lakh votes and defeated high-profile candidates like Omar Abdullah and Sajad Gani Lone, shows AIP’s rising prominence,” one of the analysts told KDC.
Prince Parvaiz, the General Secretary of AIP, is the potential candidate for the Bandipora Assembly segment and is set to be fielded by the party in this segment.
As the assembly elections approach, the changing political landscape, marked by PDP’s internal strife and AIP’s gains, sets the stage for a potentially transformative electoral contest in Jammu and Kashmir. (KDC)
