PDP’s decline in J&K Assembly polls: A dramatic fall from Political Dominance

Srinagar, Oct 14: The 2024 Jammu and Kashmir Assembly elections have delivered a crushing blow to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), once a dominant force in the region’s politics. From winning 28 seats in 2014 and forming a coalition government with the BJP, the PDP has been reduced to a marginal player, securing only three seats—Kupwara in North Kashmir, and Tral and Pulwama in South Kashmir. This drastic fall reflects a significant shift in the political landscape of Jammu and Kashmir, especially in the Valley, where the party was once a key contender.
Collapse in Strongholds

The 2024 election results have devastated the PDP’s traditional strongholds in South Kashmir, including Shopian, Anantnag, and Kulgam, where the party failed to win any seats. The defeat of Iltija Mufti, daughter of PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti, in the Srigufwara-Bijbehara constituency—a former PDP bastion—symbolizes the extent of the party’s decline. The voters’ rejection of the PDP in these areas, where the party had previously drawn strong support, has further pushed it to the political periphery.
Fallout of the BJP Alliance

Analysts widely attribute the PDP’s downfall to its controversial alliance with the BJP after the 2014 elections. At the time, the coalition was seen as ideologically mismatched, with many in the Kashmir Valley viewing it as a betrayal of PDP’s anti-BJP electoral platform. The alliance proved damaging to the party’s credibility, especially in the aftermath of the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019, which stripped Jammu and Kashmir of its special status. This political move, facilitated by the BJP-led central government, led to widespread disillusionment among PDP’s voter base, many of whom hold the PDP partly responsible for the constitutional changes.
According to political observers, the PDP’s alliance with the BJP not only alienated its core support base but also sparked internal dissent within the party. In the lead-up to the 2024 polls, the party struggled to reconnect with the electorate and faced defections and factionalism, weakening its organizational strength.
Voter Backlash and Legacy of 2016
The 2016 civilian protests and Mehbooba Mufti’s handling of the unrest during her tenure as chief minister also cast a long shadow over the PDP’s fortunes. Her controversial remarks justifying civilian deaths during clashes with security forces—stating that those killed had not gone out to “buy milk and toffees”—left a lasting mark on the public’s perception of the party. The voters, particularly in the Valley, appear to have punished the PDP for what they saw as insensitivity and complicity in the violence during her administration.
A young political commentator, Faisal Ahmed, noted that the PDP was once seen as a viable alternative to the National Conference (NC). However, its decision to align with the BJP has been its undoing. “People feel that had PDP not partnered with BJP, Article 370 would not have been revoked, and the situation in J&K would have been different,” Ahmed explained. This sentiment has translated into a significant electoral backlash, particularly in regions where the PDP once enjoyed broad support.
A Litmus Test for PDP’s Future
The future of the PDP now hangs in the balance. A senior PDP leader acknowledged that the alliance with the BJP was a major factor in the party’s drubbing in 2024. As the party faces the challenge of rebuilding its base, the coming months will be a critical period of introspection. Whether the PDP can reclaim its former influence or continue its slide into political obscurity depends largely on its ability to address the discontent among its core supporters and distance itself from past alliances that have tarnished its image.
With the National Conference (NC) emerging as the clear winner of the 2024 elections, the PDP’s diminished standing leaves it struggling for relevance in a rapidly changing political landscape. Its ability to rebrand and offer a credible alternative to both the NC and BJP will determine whether it can stage a comeback in future electoral contests.
For now, the once-prominent PDP is a shadow of its former self, and its survival as a major player in Jammu and Kashmir politics remains uncertain. The message from voters in 2024 is clear: a new political reality has taken hold in the Valley, and the PDP must adapt or risk fading into irrelevance.