Ruling NC under fire, Mehbooba charts PDP’s comeback path

Following its dismal performance in last year’s Assembly elections—where it won just three seats—the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is making renewed efforts to rebuild its base in Jammu and Kashmir.

This week, the party marked its 26th Foundation Day with a large rally in Srinagar, where PDP president Mehbooba Mufti addressed party workers in a charged speech. “In times of shifting lines, PDP holds its ground. Rooted in dialogue, dedicated to restoring the dignity of Jammu & Kashmir,” the party posted on X, echoing its commitment to its foundational values.

Once a dominant force in J&K politics, the PDP has seen a sharp decline since 2014, when it won 28 Assembly seats. That was up from 21 in 2008 and 16 in 2002. Last year’s tally of just three seats marked its worst-ever electoral result. The abrogation of Article 370 and 35A in 2019 triggered a major exodus from the party, with many key leaders leaving.

However, in recent months, several of those leaders have returned. These include former MLC Yasir Reshi, and ex-MLAs Aijaz Mir, Noor Mohammad Sheikh and Mansoor Hussain Suharwardy. Their rejoining is seen by many within the party as a potential catalyst for a political comeback.

A senior PDP leader said the party is working on multiple fronts. “We are conducting an extensive membership drive, revamping our organisational structure, and engaging at the grassroots level, especially in villages,” the leader said. The party is particularly focused on south Kashmir—traditionally its stronghold—where it won only two seats in the last election.

The PDP is also signaling intent to expand its reach in Jammu. In June, the party appointed Advocate Aditya Gupta as president of its youth wing, marking a strategic move to diversify beyond its Kashmir-centric identity.

PDP leader Zuhaib Yousf Mir called the Foundation Day convention a “success,” suggesting it could mark a turning point. “If things continue in this direction, PDP could emerge as a logical alternative,” he said.

Mir also criticised the National Conference (NC)-led government for what he termed a rapid wave of anti-incumbency. “The NC made unrealistic promises—restoring Article 370, creating one lakh jobs—that they knew were unachievable. Now, after just nine months, disillusionment is widespread,” he said.

Observers in the Valley share the sentiment that the NC-led government is constrained by the Union Territory’s limited autonomy. “The government lacks the power to deliver on major promises. That has created a political vacuum, and the PDP is trying to fill it,” said Professor Noor Baba, a Srinagar-based political commentator.

Mir added that the return of former leaders could strengthen the party’s internal dynamics and voter appeal. “Their credibility—built over years, but also tested during their time outside the party—will play a key role in attracting undecided voters.”

Whether this comeback effort will bear fruit remains to be seen. Much, insiders say, depends on how effectively the PDP can reconnect with people on the ground and adapt its organisational structure to meet current political realities.