PDP signals conditional support to NC in Rajya Sabha polls, Ties backing to assembly bills

The Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) on Thursday indicated it would consider supporting the National Conference (NC) in the upcoming Rajya Sabha elections if the NC backs certain private member bills introduced by PDP MLAs in the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly.

PDP President Mehbooba Mufti said that NC chief Farooq Abdullah had called her to request the PDP’s support for his party’s candidates. Mehbooba stated that while the PDP leadership would discuss the matter internally, she stressed that the NC should first support PDP’s legislative initiatives, including the Land Bill and the Regularisation of Daily Wagers Bill.

"If they help us pass one or two of these bills, then perhaps we can consider supporting them in the Rajya Sabha polls," Mehbooba said, highlighting the conditional nature of any political cooperation.

On the completion of one year of NC governance in the Union Territory, Mehbooba was critical of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, accusing him of having “normalised” practices she described as abnormal during the Centre’s administration after 2019. She pointed to arrests, raids by various agencies, and widespread surveillance in Jammu and Kashmir during governor’s rule as examples of past restrictions, claiming the NC government has shown no resistance to these measures.

Mehbooba also noted that the NC has not fulfilled election manifesto promises, particularly those concerning the provision of legal aid to prisoners held in outside jails. She criticised the chief minister for not addressing Article 370, asserting that the BJP’s focus on restoring statehood has been echoed by Omar Abdullah in a manner that has complicated the statehood question further.

According to Mehbooba, the emphasis on statehood has allowed ongoing arrests, the attachment of Jamaat institutions, and school closures with ministry approval, which she termed a disservice over the past year.

Comparing potential PDP governance under a Union Territory structure, Mehbooba cited Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal as a model. She highlighted that Kejriwal’s administration has delivered free electricity and water, improved schools and health centres, legalised unauthorised colonies, and reduced corruption, despite UT constraints. Mehbooba argued that similar measures could be implemented in J&K, asserting that the NC government has had no comparable limitations.

"No one here has tied Omar’s hands," she added, questioning why essential welfare initiatives such as free gas, water, and electricity, increased widow funds, or a report on reservations had not been implemented. "Claiming that the lack of statehood prevents these actions is simply an excuse," she said.

The PDP’s comments signal a pragmatic approach toward NC in Rajya Sabha polls, conditioning support on legislative cooperation while critiquing the current administration’s performance on governance and public welfare.