Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti will contest for the Lok Sabha elections from the Anantnag-Rajouri seat, setting up a high-profile contest against Ghulam Nabi Azad, the president of Democratic Party of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (DPAP). This development makes the newly formed constituency a focal point in the Jammu and Kashmir elections.
Other key contenders for the seat include Mian Altaf Ahmad from the National Conference and Zaffar Iqbal Manhas from the Apni Party, while the BJP is yet to reveal its candidate.
At a press conference, PDP Parliamentary Board Chief Sartaj Madni announced the party’s candidates for three seats of Kashmir. Waheed Parra, the president of the party’s youth wing, will contest from Srinagar, and former Rajya Sabha member Mir Fayaz has been given ticket from Baramulla.
Mufti emphasized that the PDP would support the Congress on two Jammu region seats, Udhampur and Jammu, not as a quid pro quo but to uphold the Constitution and democracy.
“My appeal to all people of the constituency — from Anantnag to Rajouri and Poonch — is to come together as we are passing through a critical stage. People cannot talk. Talking has become a crime. If someone raises voice, he is labelled as anti-national,” she added.
Regarding contesting against INDIA bloc partner National Conference, Mufti expressed disappointment in NC’s decision not to consult PDP. However, she left the decision to contesting all seats to NC President Farooq Abdullah.
Mufti, a seasoned politician, has contested Lok Sabha elections thrice before, winning twice in 2004 and 2014, with a defeat in 1999 against National Conference’s Omar Abdullah.