LS POLLS-2024 | Mehbooba Mufti to contest from Anantnag-Rajouri-Poonch constituency

Srinagar, Apr 7: Former Chief Minister and PDP President Mehbooba Mufti will contest the Lok Sabha (LS) polls from the Anantnag-Rajouri-Poonch constituency.

The party will field Waheed-u-Rehman Parra as its candidate in the Srinagar constituency and Fayaz Ahmad Mir in the Baramulla constituency. PDP has also decided to support Congress in the Jammu and Udhampur parliamentary constituencies.

This was announced by senior PDP leader and chairman of the party’s Parliamentary Board, Sartaj Madi, at a press conference here today. Mehbooba Mufti also addressed the media. It is pertinent to mention here that former Chief Minister and Chairman of Democratic Progressive Azad Party (DPAP) Ghulam Nabi has already announced to contest from Anantnag-Rajouri- Poonch constituency. Mian Altaf is the National Conference (NC) candidate there.

Addressing the press conference, the PDP leader Sartaj Madni said, "We had requested our party President Mehbooba Mufti Ji to contest from Anantnag -Rajouri-Poonch constituency and she accepted the request and she is our candidate for the constituency. So far as the parliamentary seat of Srinagar is concerned Waheed-u-Rehman Parra is our candidate there. PDP has also decided to field Fayaz Ahmad Mir in Baramulla," he said.

Later, Mehbooba Mufti said, "PDP has decided to support the Congress in the two seats in Jammu given the situation prevailing in the country. We want to support the I.N.D.I.A bloc since in our country the constitution is being violated, a difficult atmosphere has been created, unemployment is growing and inflation is on the rise. We also support the alliance so that in future it can take steps regarding Jammu and Kashmir in the right way."

Asked whether Congress will support PDP candidates in Kashmir or not, she said, " We are not supporting Congress because it should support us too. My people are my strength. My party and my workers are my strength. I appeal to the workers of Congress and National Conference to strengthen my voice, which is weak right now so that we can bring the sufferings of our people to the notice of Delhi through Parliament," she said.

The PDP President asked that if BJP's claims that everything is alright in Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh are true then why section 144 was imposed in Leh and why the “people in Jammu are unhappy and angry.”

She appealed to the people from all communities in Anantnag -Rajouri-Poonch constituency to vote for her party. PDP President made a similar appeal to the people in the other two constituencies. “It is important for people to see which candidate can raise their voice effectively in the parliament. Jammu and Kashmir is passing through a very difficult time. People are facing a lot of problems, particularly after the abrogation of Article 370. We need a strong voice in Parliament. I appeal to my brothers and sisters to vote for us, " she said.

Mehbooba reiterated that the National Conference's tough stand forced the PDP to field its candidates in all the three constituencies in Kashmir." It was my wish that we work together with NC and move forward together given the difficult situation the people of Jammu and Kashmir are going through. I made serious efforts for unity among us. Even in Mumbai, I said that whatever decision Dr Farooq Abdullah Sahab, being our head, will take we will accept it. I do not have a complaint with his decision but NC leaders did not bother to tell us about it. They did not bother to get our opinion. Instead, they announced their decision publicly. They left no other option for us but to field our candidates also,” she said.

Mehbooba alleged that NC leaders hurt PDP party workers and supporters and demoralised them by saying that “our party is finished and does not exist anywhere.” “Had Farooq Abdullah Sahab taken us into confidence and told us that NC will field candidates in all the three constituencies, we would have agreed. Instead of that, Omar Abdullah Sahab said PDP does not exist and announced that NC would contest the three seats. He even went to the extent of saying that NC would first see the conduct of the PDP and then think about any seat-sharing arrangement in assembly polls. NC leader's such statements and decisions and their effects on our workers forced us to field our candidates," she said.

To a question whether fielding of candidates by the PDP will not cause division of votes and give an edge to BJP candidates, the PDP President said, "You ask this to NC leaders, who are responsible for creating this situation. We wanted to fight the elections together but NC took unilateral decisions forcing us to contest solo."

Asked about the visit of BJP National General Secretary Tarun Chugh and People's Conference President Sajad Gani Lone to the residence of Apni Party President Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari's residence here yesterday and some reports regarding the possibility of a poll alliance among them, Mehbooba said," Why do not you count Azad sahab (Ghulam Nabi Azad) among them. BJP says it will give full support to Azad Sahab. Let me tell you that democracy is a battle of ideas. Anybody can ally with anybody and compete against anybody. It is the people, who have to finally decide whom to vote and whom not to."

She stated that full might is being used by Delhi in the Anantnag- Rajouri-Poonch constituency and all candidates are being fielded- some directly and some indirectly." I had wished that a youth leader should contest instead of me. I had no interest in contesting. But seeing the intentions of Delhi, I accepted the challenge and decided to contest. As I have been saying I am a fighter and I will fight. I want to raise the voice of my people in the Parliament," Mehbooba said.

She added that PDP was victimised more after the abrogation of Article 370. "People face a lot of problems and nobody can speak. Unemployment is growing and inflation is rising. There is a power crisis. Somebody has to speak. I want to raise my voice in the Parliament," Mehbooba said.

Asked whether she would persuade the opposition parties at the national level to form an alliance, Mehbooba said," We could not form an alliance here, where it was much needed. How can we tell others to go for the alliance?"

She defended Congress' manifesto saying it is first pro-people and pro-poor after a long time. Mehbooba took a dig at BJP leaders for criticising it saying the ruling party leaders have nothing to offer to people and that is why they are diverting the attention.