NC seeks PDP support for RS election, Mufti wants backing on land rights first

With the Rajya Sabha elections approaching in Jammu and Kashmir, the ruling National Conference (NC) has reached out to the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) seeking support for its candidates. However, the PDP has set a clear condition: the NC-led government must support the land rights and daily wagers Bills introduced by the PDP in the Legislative Assembly.

The outreach comes days after People’s Conference (PC) president Sajad Lone announced that his party would abstain from voting in the upcoming elections and would not support any NC candidates contesting the four Rajya Sabha seats.

Addressing reporters in Srinagar on Thursday, PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti confirmed that NC president Farooq Abdullah had personally contacted her to seek the PDP’s support.

“Our leadership will meet and collectively decide. However, I conveyed to him that we have introduced important bills related to land rights and daily wagers. If the government supports their passage, then we may consider backing them,” Mufti said.

Soon after her remarks, Iltija Mufti echoed the party’s stance on X: “Don’t see why NC shouldn’t support PDP bills—whether it’s the one on land rights or regularising daily wagers. Both were unfortunately kept in limbo during the Budget session earlier this year.”

She added that the Bills aimed to protect the rights of people across J&K, who are facing growing uncertainty over property rights and employment, and urged the government to “rise above partisan politics.”

In response to PDP’s conditions, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said the Assembly Speaker holds the authority to decide which bills are taken up for debate and passage. However, he assured that the NC would not become an obstacle to any “pro-people” legislation the House wished to pass.

Omar also emphasised the larger political context behind the Rajya Sabha polls: “Farooq Abdullah told Mehbooba Mufti that the contest is directly with the BJP. Even abstaining from voting will indirectly benefit the BJP,” the Chief Minister said.

This week, the NC filed nominations for all four Rajya Sabha seats from J&K, while the BJP fielded three candidates. The Congress has opted out of the contest.

These are the first Rajya Sabha elections in Jammu and Kashmir since the revocation of Article 370 and the reorganisation of the state into a Union Territory. The polls follow three separate notifications issued by the Election Commission to fill the vacancies. The last date for withdrawal of nominations is October 16.