NC Courts PDP for Rajya Sabha Support — Mufti Sets Land Rights as Precondition

National Conference Courts PDP for Rajya Sabha Support — Mehbooba Mufti Wields Land Rights as Political Leverage

By: Javid Amin | 16 October 2025

A Deal on the Edge of Power and Principle

In a charged political season, just weeks before the crucial Rajya Sabha elections, an old rivalry is being tested by new necessities. The National Conference (NC), led by Farooq Abdullah and Omar Abdullah, has reached out to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) helmed by Mehbooba Mufti for support in the upcoming polls.

But Mehbooba is not offering unconditional backing. She’s demanding something far more politically potent — legislative action on land rights and job security.

“Pro-people legislation must come first,” she reportedly told Farooq Abdullah during the initial round of talks.

At stake is more than just a seat in the Upper House of Parliament. It’s a battle over Kashmir’s land, identity, and political direction.

Understanding the Context: Rajya Sabha Elections & Political Math in J&K

With the Rajya Sabha elections slated for the coming months, J&K’s post-Article 370 political landscape has become a chessboard where every vote matters.

Unlike Lok Sabha contests, Rajya Sabha seats are filled through indirect elections by MLAs. With a fractured Assembly and no single party holding a dominant majority, coalition arithmetic is critical.

NC’s Objective: Secure a Rajya Sabha seat and reassert its central political relevance.
PDP’s Leverage: With a small but strategically significant number of legislators, PDP can tilt the balance.

And that leverage is being wielded with precision.

Mehbooba’s Conditions: Land and Jobs — Two Nerves of Kashmir

Mehbooba Mufti has made it clear that PDP’s support is not for free. Her two preconditions — Land Protection Bill and Regularisation of Daily Wagers Bill — touch the core emotional and economic anxieties of post-2019 Jammu & Kashmir.

Land Protection Bill: Reclaiming a Vanishing Right

After the abrogation of Article 370 of the Constitution of India in August 2019, land ownership laws in Jammu & Kashmir underwent sweeping changes. Non-residents could now buy land in the region — something that was constitutionally restricted for decades.

For many Kashmiris, land isn’t just property — it’s identity, livelihood, and inheritance.

The PDP has proposed:

Safeguards to prevent large-scale land transfers to non-locals.
Restoration of land use rights for agricultural and tribal communities.
Legal frameworks to limit speculative or commercial encroachment.

“Without land, Kashmir loses its soul,” Mehbooba has said repeatedly at public rallies.

By making the Land Protection Bill a precondition for RS support, PDP is politicizing an issue already emotionally charged, making it difficult for NC to ignore without appearing disconnected from grassroots sentiment.

Regularisation of Daily Wagers Bill: A Socio-Economic Lifeline

For decades, daily wage workers in government departments — from electricians and linemen to clerks and sanitation workers — have remained in employment limbo. Many have served for 10–20 years without permanent status, benefits, or job security.

This issue affects tens of thousands of families across Jammu & Kashmir.

The PDP wants:

Legal regularisation of long-term daily wagers.
Clear timelines for absorption into permanent cadres.
Social security nets for families dependent on these jobs.

“How can you build a just society if those who keep the lights on have no guarantee of bread?” Mehbooba remarked in a recent speech in Pulwama.

For NC, agreeing to this bill could be politically advantageous — but it would also require navigating fiscal and bureaucratic hurdles.

NC’s Dilemma: Political Necessity vs. Strategic Autonomy

While NC needs PDP’s support to ensure smooth passage of its Rajya Sabha candidate, agreeing to Mehbooba’s conditions comes with significant trade-offs.

✅ Political Upside:
- Projects NC as responsive to public concerns.
- Rebuilds bridges with PDP after years of rivalry.
- Strengthens anti-BJP regional bloc.
❌ Potential Risks:
- May alienate some Jammu legislators who oppose exclusive land laws.
- Fiscal strain from regularising thousands of workers.
- Limits NC’s policy autonomy.

Omar Abdullah, known for cautious political maneuvering, must now decide whether to embrace a populist stance or guard legislative independence.

Mehbooba’s Political Strategy: From Margins to Kingmaker

PDP’s electoral strength may have diminished since 2018, but its legislative positioning gives it leverage in a hung house. Mehbooba is using this moment to rebuild political relevance:

Reclaiming PDP’s core identity: Defending Kashmiri rights and land.
Positioning as pro-people voice: Emphasizing welfare and livelihood over power politics.
Creating contrast with NC: Which she accuses of symbolic gestures without legislative muscle.

“We won’t be a rubber stamp. If NC wants support, it must stand with the people,” she reportedly told party workers in Anantnag.

This strategy echoes Mehbooba’s earlier years of oppositional politics, when PDP’s narrative centered on empowerment, rights, and dialogue.

Farooq & Omar’s Response: Between Pragmatism and Political Image

Inside the NC, responses to Mehbooba’s demand are mixed.

Some senior leaders argue NC should accept — it would strengthen its pro-people credentials.
Others warn that tying legislative priorities to electoral deals may weaken the party’s image as a major force.

Farooq Abdullah, known for political pragmatism, is reportedly inclined to negotiate a phased commitment rather than an outright yes.

Omar Abdullah, meanwhile, faces the political optics challenge:

If he refuses, NC looks arrogant.
If he agrees, he risks appearing subservient to PDP.

Historical Parallels: NC–PDP Rivalry and Cooperation

The NC–PDP rivalry is one of the defining features of J&K politics since the late 1990s.

Year	Event	NC–PDP Dynamics
2002	PDP forms govt with Congress	NC in opposition, rivalry sharpens
2008	NC returns to power	PDP positions itself as rights defender
2015	PDP allies with BJP	NC accuses PDP of betrayal
2019	Post-Article 370	Both align rhetorically against Centre
2025	Rajya Sabha election	PDP becomes potential kingmaker

The 2025 Rajya Sabha moment is unique: Mehbooba can extract concessions without entering a formal coalition, while NC gets a chance to avoid BJP encroachment in Parliament.

Land Rights: Why This Issue Is Politically Explosive

To understand Mehbooba’s leverage, one must grasp why land rights in Kashmir are more than legal jargon.

Historical Protection:
Land ownership was historically protected for state subjects. This was part of the autonomy framework under Article 370.
Post-2019 Anxiety:
After the abrogation, legal changes allowed non-residents to purchase land, triggering fears of demographic shifts.
Cultural Connection:
In rural Kashmir, land is linked to community identity, agriculture, and heritage.
Economic Stability:
For many families, land is the only economic security they have in the absence of industrial expansion.

Any party that champions land protection is likely to gain massive emotional capital among voters. Mehbooba understands this acutely.

The Daily Wager Question: Politics of Precarity

Daily wagers — often invisible in policy debates — are a silent but large political constituency.

Estimated 60,000–70,000 workers are on temporary contracts across PHE, PDD, R&B, Forest, and municipal departments.
Most have worked for over a decade without regular pay, pensions, or healthcare.
Protests and sit-ins are common outside the Civil Secretariat in Srinagar and Jammu.

Politically, any government that regularises them would:

Gain enormous goodwill across districts.
Strengthen ties with working-class communities.
Face fiscal pressure, but reap long-term political dividends.

For Mehbooba, tying this issue to RS support forces NC to make a clear moral choice.

Congress Factor: A Complicating Layer

NC’s strained ties with Indian National Congress add another layer of complexity.

Congress, which is part of the ruling coalition, has not committed unequivocal support for NC’s RS candidate due to recent Rajya Sabha ticket disputes. This makes PDP’s numerical support even more critical.

If Congress plays neutral or issues conditional backing of its own, PDP’s bargaining power grows exponentially.

BJP’s Shadow: A Silent Player, Loud Stakes

While Bharatiya Janata Party lacks the numbers to win a Rajya Sabha seat outright, it remains a formidable backstage player.

Could attempt to split opposition votes.
May field a candidate to force cross-voting.
Could use delays or procedural tactics to weaken the NC-PDP front.

Any NC-PDP understanding would block BJP from a symbolic Upper House presence from J&K, which is politically significant ahead of 2026 budget and statehood debates.

Political Messaging: Beyond a Single Seat

The battle isn’t just about who gets to sit in the Rajya Sabha. It’s about:

Who sets the legislative narrative in J&K.
Which issues — land, identity, or development — dominate the public conversation.
Whether regional parties can form issue-based alliances to counter central influence.

In that sense, Mehbooba’s stance has already shifted the axis of political discourse — even before any vote is cast.

Public Sentiment: “Land Is Our Mother”

In Pulwama’s Rajpora, 62-year-old Ghulam Nabi, a farmer, says:

“When Delhi changed the law, they didn’t ask us. Now at least someone is fighting for our zameen (land).”

In Jammu’s Reasi, daily wager Shanta Devi, who has worked for 15 years without regularisation, adds:

“We don’t understand Rajya Sabha or bills. But if someone gives us job security, we will remember that forever.”

For ordinary people, this high-stakes negotiation is not just politics — it’s about livelihood, land, and dignity.

Analysts’ Take: Tactical Genius or Political Gamble?

Dr. Nayeema Qadri, political analyst:

“Mehbooba Mufti is playing from a position of weakness but with strategic clarity. She’s forcing NC to either side with people or expose itself to criticism.”

Arif Hamid, policy expert:

“If NC agrees, it strengthens a united regional front. If it refuses, PDP gains moral high ground. Either way, Mehbooba sets the narrative.”

Nadia Bhat, senior journalist:

“This is less about Mehbooba’s comeback and more about re-centering land rights as the core issue in Kashmiri politics.”

Scenarios Ahead: How the Political Drama Could Unfold

Scenario	What Happens	Political Outcome
NC Accepts PDP’s Conditions	Bills move forward in Assembly	PDP & NC regain public trust, regional front strengthens
NC Delays or Dilutes	PDP withholds RS support	NC risks losing seat or looking isolated
Congress Joins Deal	United opposition front	Strong message to Centre
BJP Exploits Rift	Fragmented vote	Symbolic BJP RS win or opposition embarrassment

Editorial Perspective: Mehbooba’s High-Risk, High-Reward Move

This is classic Mehbooba Mufti — turning moral politics into strategic leverage. For years, PDP has been on the back foot, overshadowed by NC’s return to power and BJP’s national machinery.

But by centering land rights and daily wagers, she:

Forces NC to choose between power and people.
Reclaims a narrative space she once dominated.
Repositions PDP as a policy-driven opposition, not just a political relic.

If the gamble pays off, it may mark the beginning of PDP’s slow but steady revival.

If it fails, she still leaves NC politically exposed on emotional issues.

Bottom-Line: One Rajya Sabha Seat, A Valley of Implications

In the shifting sands of Kashmir politics, power is rarely straightforward. A single Rajya Sabha seat has triggered a debate on land, livelihoods, and political alliances that cuts to the heart of post-370 anxieties.

For NC, this is a test of pragmatism.
For PDP, it’s a moment of strategic resurgence.
For the people, it’s a glimmer of hope that their land and labour might finally matter in the halls of power.

Whether Mehbooba Mufti emerges as a kingmaker or a disruptor, she has already ensured that the Rajya Sabha contest of 2025 will be remembered less for numbers and more for narratives.

Quick Political Takeaways

NC seeks PDP support for Rajya Sabha elections.
PDP demands Land Protection Bill and Regularisation of Daily Wagers Bill.
Congress’s wavering stance amplifies PDP’s leverage.
BJP remains a background disruptor.
The outcome could redefine political equations in J&K.