PDP Offers NC Support in Rajya Sabha Polls in Exchange for Backing Their Bills

SRINAGAR: Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti on Thursday said her party is willing to support the National Conference (NC) in the upcoming Rajya Sabha elections, on the condition that the NC extends backing to the PDP’s Land Bill and Regularisation of Daily Wagers Bill in the Assembly.

Mehbooba conveyed this to NC president Farooq Abdullah, saying the PDP would “support NC in the Rajya Sabha elections if the NC backs the PDP’s Land Bill and the Regularisation of Daily Wagers Bill in the Assembly.”

Turning her criticism towards Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, Mehbooba accused him of failing to deliver on promises made in his party’s manifesto. “He has not fulfilled any promise made in the manifesto,” she said, alleging that Omar Abdullah had ignored key political issues that once defined his party’s stance.

She questioned the NC’s silence on constitutional matters, remarking that “he doesn’t talk about Article 370 anymore.” Mehbooba further said that Omar Abdullah has “made statehood such a big issue even though BJP itself promised statehood,” suggesting that his rhetoric lacked sincerity.

The PDP chief also accused the Chief Minister of “fulfilling his service towards the BJP by normalising raids and arrests,” referring to recent crackdowns and restrictions across Jammu and Kashmir. “There is no change in the bans of institutions and the CM has normalised it by not speaking about it,” she added, alleging that the government had failed to defend public and institutional freedoms.