PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti dissolves entire party structure

Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti has announced the dissolution of the party’s entire structure with immediate effect. According to sources, the new office bearers, along with various wings and bodies, will be formed after discussions with senior leaders.

The announcement was made at the JKPDP headquarters in Srinagar on Friday.

The fresh development comes after the party this week reviewed its dismal performance in the Assembly elections, where it was able to bag only three seats.

“New office bearers, different wings and bodies will be framed after consultation with senior party leaders in the near future,” the party statement said on Saturday.

In the recently held Assembly elections, PDP won the three seats of Pulwama, Tral and Kupwara — all in the Valley — which was its worst performance since its inception. In 2014, the PDP had emerged as the single largest party, when it won 28 seats.

Earlier this week, the party had said that it will draft detailed proposals to strengthen “its grassroots presence and reconnect with the public.” “The party aims to highlight its achievements and reaffirm itself as a viable democratic alternative,” the spokesperson said on Thursday.

While the party had said it is preparing for the upcoming municipal, panchayat and District Development Council (DDC) elections with “renewed vigour,” it noted that our “well-structured grassroots network will be activated in line with the political vision of our founder Mufti Mohammad Sayeed.”

The PDP has been maintaining that it will continue raising “issues concerning the people and extend support to the government wherever our voice can contribute to securing the constitutional rights of the people of Jammu and Kashmir.”

Poll rout fallout

• In the recently held Assembly elections, PDP won only three seats, all in the Valley, which was its worst performance since its inception
• The new office-bearers, along with members of various wings, will be named after discussions with senior leaders
• Party said it will strengthen “its grassroots presence and reconnect with public”