Musical Chairs in J&K Politics: Leaders Defect Ahead of Assembly Polls

Srinagar, Aug 21: As the Assembly elections draw closer, political parties in Jammu and Kashmir are facing internal revolts, with several leaders resigning and joining other parties.
These leaders are resigning to express their discontent over not being granted their party’s mandate to contest in the upcoming polls.

This political flux is particularly affecting parties like the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Apni Party (AP), and Ghulam Nabi Azad’s Democratic Progressive Azad Party (DPAP).
Jammu and Kashmir are preparing for its long-awaited Assembly election. The election, the first since Jammu and Kashmir became a Union Territory in 2019 and the first in a decade, will be held in three phases: September 18, 25, and October 1, with vote counting on October 4.
Over the last week, several leaders from these parties have resigned and joined other political parties. Apni Party’s Zaffar Manhas resigned and likely to join Congress. Similarly, Taj Mohiuddin of DPAP rejoined the Congress.
Several DPAP from South Kashmir are also likely to resign and join Congress.
Although some leaders have rejoined the PDP, many have resigned and joined other parties.
Several PDP leaders are upset with the functioning of the party. The resignations followed the release of the PDP’s list of constituency in-charges, which sparked discontent among several members.
On Tuesday, PDP spokesperson Suhail Bukhari, who had been a close aide to party president Mehbooba Mufti, resigned after being denied a mandate to contest from the Wagoora-Kreeri constituency. Bukhari was reportedly disappointed by the party’s decision to favor former minister Basharat Bukhari, who recently rejoined the PDP.
Similarly, Dr. Harbaksh Singh, a senior PDP leader and District Development Council (DDC) member from Tral, resigned and announced his intention to join the Awami Itehad Party (AIP).
Besides other disillusioned PDP members, including former MLA Ajaz Mir and over 10 DDC members, have also left the party. These leaders plan to contest the upcoming elections under the AIP banner and aim to strengthen the party’s presence in South Kashmir.
The revolt within the PDP intensified after the party replaced several long-standing members with new candidates, including Mehbooba Mufti’s daughter, Iltija Mufti, who took over the Bijbhera constituency from senior leader Abdur Rehman Veeri. This shake-up has led to further discontent within the party, with Veeri reportedly considering running as an independent.