SRINAGAR: Ending weeks of tensions within Kashmir’s political class, Mehbooba Mufti announced that she will be contesting from the Anantnag-Poonch constituency. She announced Waheed ur Rehman Parra as her party candidate from central Kashmir Srinagar. From North Kashmir, the party has fielded Fayaz Ahmad Mir.
The announcement was made by Sartaj Madani at the party headquarters in a press conference in Srinagar. Later, Mehbooba Mufti addressed the media and insisted her party survived a series of assaults in the last few years.
Anantnag berth, though hugely altered after the last delimitation, has been her party’s major support base. She as well as her father have repeatedly represented the berth in the Lok Sabha since 1999. This was perhaps the reason why PDP was so keen to have the berth in an understanding with the National Conference.
Ms Mufti said they had decided they would be part of a joint understanding for the Lok Sabha polls but that could not happen. She regretted that Dr Farooq Abdullah did not even tell her the party wanted to contest all three seats. It was only after the JKNC decision was made public that the PDP decided they would contest the polls on their own.
Days ahead of announcing the candidature, Ms Mehbooba welcomed Fayaaz Ahmad Mir back to the party hold. Barely 10 days later, he was given the mandate of the party to contest from north Kashmir.
