SRINAGAR: PDP has been reduced to just three assembly seats but the picture to emerge in post-370 J&K is confusing, and may just give the party a lifeline to fight in future.
PDP would have hoped for at least a double-digit tally to be a viable opposition. It’s single digit finish is made worse by the fact that no member from the Mufti family would be in assembly – Mehbooba having skipped the contest and daughter Iltija losing from the home seat of Bijbehara.
But with a small group confronting the govt in assembly, and a party with a name recall and known faces outside, PDP can try to reconnect with the masses and try to make a comeback.It will have to hold on to its MLAs who’ve proved fickle in the past. The fact is that PDP, in its 24th year of existence, faces a real existential threat.
Putting up a brave front, Mehbooba said, “These ups and downs are part of a party’s political journey. But PDP has a vision and an agenda, and that will help us go forward with hope.”
It leaves BJP with a decent contingent, but limited to Jammu, playing opposition. While the ruling combine would be hoping for early restoration of statehood and some sort of special status, the overwhelming mandate in its favour would nudge the alliance to challenge the Centre to restore powers of state govt that have been delegated to the LG.
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