Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chief Mehbooba Mufti announced on Wednesday that she won’t contest the upcoming assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir. She stated that even if she becomes the Chief Minister, she won’t be able to fulfill her party’s agenda in the Union Territory.
Referring to her tenure as Chief Minister in 2016, Mehbooba Mufti said, “I had withdrawn 12,000 FIRs and invited separatists for talks. Can you do that today? If you can’t even withdraw an FIR as Chief Minister today, what can you do with such a position?”
Mehbooba Mufti also criticized National Conference vice-president Omar Abdullah, saying he had earlier stated that he won’t contest elections until Jammu and Kashmir remains a Union Territory, but has now changed his mind. She quoted Omar Abdullah as saying that even a peon’s transfer requires visiting the Lieutenant Governor’s doorstep.
Regarding the alliance between National Conference and Congress, Mehbooba Mufti said that both parties have always come together for power. She recalled that when PDP formed an alliance with Congress in 2002, they had an agenda, which included releasing Syed Ali Geelani from jail. Similarly, when they allied with BJP in 2014, they had a written agenda that included not touching Article 370, revoking AFSPA, and talks with Pakistan and Hurriyat, among other things. However, when Congress and NC form an alliance, it’s only for power.”