Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chief Mehbooba Mufti on Tuesday said the people of Jammu and Kashmir have given a clear mandate, leaving no room for manipulation. She acknowledged that the PDP has suffered setbacks but expressed confidence that the National Conference (NC)-Congress alliance would secure a majority.
"I anticipated that the people would vote for the NC-Congress alliance," she said in Srinagar while reacting to the election results. She commended the people for delivering a decisive verdict. "The mandate is loud and clear. There is no possibility of tampering with it now," she stressed. When asked about the PDP’s decline, she said fluctuations are normal in politics.
#WATCH | Srinagar | PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti says, " I congratulate the leadership of Congress and National Conference for their outstanding performance. I also congratulate the people of Jammu & Kashmir for voting for a stable government...If it was not a clear mandate, then one… pic.twitter.com/ffCBMTSvjn
— ANI (@ANI) October 8, 2024
Mufti referred to the cyclical nature of politics, citing the NC winning 60 seats in 1996 and only 16 in 2014. "These fluctuations are part of politics," she said. She added voters had aimed to prevent the BJP from coming to power. "Elections don’t signal the end of the people’s issues," she said. "We will stand in opposition and continue to advocate for their concerns."
Mufti emphasized that the PDP remains relevant, stating, "The party may be down, but we are not out. We have a clear roadmap for Jammu and Kashmir." When asked about the possibility of the PDP supporting the NC-Congress alliance, she responded that they would not like to be an unwanted guest in the alliance.
She concluded by saying that the people had not voted for a hung Assembly. "I believe the NC-Congress alliance will reach 50 seats, and they won’t need external support," she said.
