PDP’s Political Comeback in J&K: Mehbooba Mufti Targets NC Failures, Reclaims Lost Ground
By: Javid Amin | 31 July 2025
A Region in Flux, A Leader on the Move
Jammu and Kashmir’s political sphere, long locked in cycles of conflict, electoral stagnation, and shifting loyalties, is witnessing another tectonic shift. At the heart of this evolving narrative is Mehbooba Mufti, the former Chief Minister and president of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who is now boldly charting a comeback strategy after years of political decline.
Once seen as a spent force following the dissolution of the PDP-BJP alliance and the scrapping of Article 370, the PDP is now actively rebuilding its base, returning key leaders, and reclaiming political relevance—especially as public frustration grows against the ruling National Conference (NC).
This isn’t merely about numbers or optics; it’s a strategic recalibration of Kashmir’s post-370 political architecture.
From Collapse to Comeback – The PDP’s Recent Past
01 The Decline Post-2018
The PDP’s sharp decline began with the collapse of its alliance with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in 2018, which led to the imposition of Governor’s Rule in J&K. This was followed by:
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Widespread disillusionment among PDP cadre
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Mass resignations by senior leaders
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Accusations of betrayal from both the Kashmir Valley and Jammu region
02 Fallout of Article 370 Abrogation
The 2019 abrogation of Article 370 was a political earthquake, and PDP, which had long positioned itself as a custodian of Kashmir’s special status, faced:
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Detention of Mehbooba Mufti under PSA
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Collapse of party infrastructure
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Loss of electoral relevance in subsequent DDC and panchayat elections
Yet, even as the party withered electorally, its symbolic capital—as a voice of resistance and dignity—remained intact among a sizable section of Kashmiris.
Grassroots Revival – Rebuilding from the Bottom Up
01 Focus on Traditional Strongholds
In recent months, PDP has doubled down on South Kashmir, especially in districts like Anantnag, Pulwama, and Shopian. These areas were historically PDP’s voter backbone, and signs of revival are emerging through:
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Village-level outreach
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Listening camps and grievance redressal meetings
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Reactivation of dormant party offices
02 Membership Drives & Reorganization
The party has also launched aggressive membership drives across the Valley, emphasizing:
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Clean politics
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Youth involvement
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Constitutional struggle
The district units are being restructured, bringing in younger, educated leadership while keeping veteran political workers engaged.
The Return of Political Heavyweights
01 Reinforcements from Within
One of the strongest signals of PDP’s comeback has been the return of key leaders, including:
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Yasir Reshi (former MLC from Bandipora)
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Aijaz Ahmad Mir (ex-MLA from Wachi)
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Noor Mohammad Sheikh (a known figure from Srinagar)
These leaders had either drifted away post-2019, remained silent, or flirted with third front formations. Their return suggests:
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Renewed faith in Mehbooba’s leadership
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Recognition of PDP’s enduring political space
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Disillusionment with alternatives, particularly Apni Party and NC’s handling of governance
02 Unity Against Marginalization
These returning figures have echoed public sentiment about the need for:
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Strong opposition to NC’s governance failures
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A principled stand on constitutional rights
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Fighting elections with a clean and issue-based narrative
Targeting NC’s Governance – A Calculated Offensive
01 Mehbooba’s Charges
In a recent public rally in Kulgam, Mehbooba Mufti launched a scathing attack on the NC-led government, accusing it of:
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Turning a blind eye to mass youth detentions
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Failing to generate employment
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Illegally terminating government employees
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Remaining silent on Article 370 and 35A debates
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Focusing on trivial administrative reshuffles like Patwari postings instead of addressing systemic issues
Her rhetoric is resonating, especially among:
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Disappointed youth
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Terminated teachers and contractual employees
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Civil society voices feeling stifled by the status quo
02 A Vacuum of Real Opposition
PDP is seeking to fill a political vacuum left by the weakened PAGD (People’s Alliance for Gupkar Declaration), which once promised unified resistance to New Delhi’s 2019 decisions but now appears fractured and leaderless.
Youth Outreach – A Strategic Expansion into Jammu
01 Breaking the Valley-Only Image
In a significant departure from its previous Valley-centric politics, PDP has:
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Appointed Advocate Aditya Gupta as President of PDP’s Youth Wing
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Initiated outreach programs in Jammu, Samba, Kathua, and Udhampur
This move serves dual purposes:
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Expanding PDP’s secular and inclusive appeal
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Challenging BJP’s stronghold in the Jammu plains
02 Fresh Blood, New Politics
The youth wing is now tasked with:
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Mobilizing student leaders
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Campaigning on unemployment and academic distress
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Bringing in tech-savvy digital engagement to combat NC and BJP narratives online
PAGD Fallout – Mehbooba’s Blame Game
01 The Rise and Fall of a United Front
In the aftermath of Article 370’s abrogation, PDP, NC, and other parties formed the PAGD to:
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Collectively resist the Centre’s decision
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Restore J&K’s special status
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Avoid vote splitting in future elections
But PAGD quickly unraveled due to:
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Electoral competition at DDC level
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Personal ambitions of top leaders
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Strategic betrayals and mistrust
02 Mehbooba’s Accusation
Mehbooba has now squarely blamed the National Conference for sabotaging the alliance, accusing it of:
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Fielding shadow candidates
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Negotiating unilaterally with New Delhi
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Weakening the collective resistance front
Her statement:
“They [NC] chose seats over struggle, silence over speaking truth. But we’re not afraid to stand alone.”
Can the PDP Win Back Public Trust?
01 Public Perception
While many voters still blame PDP for:
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Aligning with BJP in 2015
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Soft-pedaling during youth unrest
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Enabling the atmosphere that led to Article 370’s abrogation
There is also growing sentiment that PDP is:
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More vocal than NC on key issues
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More willing to challenge Delhi openly
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Reaching out to the people at the grassroots
02 Path to Comeback
For a full electoral comeback, PDP will need:
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A strong, unifying manifesto
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Crisis-free candidate selection
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Social media mobilization to counter trolls and disinformation
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Clear articulation of its post-370 roadmap
What Lies Ahead – The Electoral Battlefield of 2025
The upcoming Assembly elections, likely to be held before the end of 2025, will serve as:
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A referendum on Article 370 politics
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A test of ground-level party strength
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A preview of Lok Sabha alignments for 2029
PDP aims to:
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Dominate South Kashmir once again
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Make inroads in border areas of Jammu
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Partner selectively with independents or smaller parties
Meanwhile, NC faces criticism not only from PDP but also from:
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Congress (for local misgovernance)
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Apni Party (for not engaging on development)
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Youth leaders like Shah Faesal (for old guard politics)
Bottom-Line: Mehbooba Mufti’s Political Gamble – Relevance or Redemption?
Mehbooba Mufti’s political journey is emblematic of modern Kashmiri politics—fraught with contradictions, resilience, and reinvention. Her PDP revival strategy, based on grassroots rebuilding, youth outreach, and anti-NC positioning, is not just about survival—it’s about reclaiming political narrative.
Whether this gamble leads to relevance or redemption depends not only on public memory but also on the party’s ability to inspire hope, not nostalgia.
