Avinash Azad
In a significant political development that could shape the post-election dynamics in Jammu & Kashmir, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) President and former Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti on Thursday indicated a conditional willingness to support a government led by National Conference (NC) Vice President Omar Abdullah — provided the party honors the commitments it made to the people during the Assembly elections.
Although the Omar Abdullah-led government had the required numbers to form a majority with the support of the Congress and Independent MLAs, Mehbooba Mufti’s conditional offer carries weight as she stated, “We will support the government if it fulfills the promises made during the elections.”
Speaking to reporters after chairing a one-day party convention at the scenic hill station of Patnitop, Mehbooba declared, “If Omar Abdullah-led government delivers on its promises, the PDP will extend support in the interest of the people. We are not power hungry; we want governance that delivers.”
Addressing PDP workers earlier in the day, Mehbooba Mufti invoked former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s legacy, praising his outreach to Pakistan. “Vajpayee was the first Prime Minister who dared to take the path of dialogue with our neighbor,” she said. “But sadly, that hand of friendship was answered with the Kargil war. Prime Minister Modi also tried — even visiting Pakistan — but what followed? The Pathankot attack.”
Mufti underscored that war is not a solution, adding that military retaliation often ends up punishing the people of Jammu & Kashmir more than anyone else. “After the Pahalgam terror attack, India hit terror launch pads across the border. But in the end, it was Kashmiris who paid the price — with more widows, more orphans,” she said. “We unitedly condemned the Pahalgam attack. The people of Kashmir rejected violence against civilians.”
Revealing a rare meeting with Jammu & Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha — her first in five years — Mehbooba said she strongly advocated for the political representation of Kashmiri Pandits within the valley. “I urged the LG to ensure the return of Kashmiri Pandits to the valley, and more importantly, to reserve Assembly seats for them in Kashmir,” she said. “A nominated seat is symbolic. What we need is electoral empowerment — Pandits should contest and become MLAs. Let a Pandit lead a Muslim majority constituency.”
In a fiery rebuke to the BJP’s handling of Kashmir’s legacy, the PDP leader accused the party of distorting historical facts for political gain. “They glorify Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel but forget he wanted to annex Hyderabad and leave Kashmir to Pakistan,” she alleged. “It was Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru who brought Kashmir to India — and BJP never acknowledges that.”
“Both Nehru and Vajpayee contributed immensely to India’s unity and its standing in Kashmir. I don’t think anyone in the BJP has matched their commitment or vision,” Mehbooba added, drawing a clear ideological divide between her party’s position and that of the BJP.
Mehbooba’s remarks are being seen as a strategic shift in the PDP’s posture — opening the door to a potential alliance or outside support arrangement with NC in the event of a fractured mandate. The former Chief Minister’s comments also come amid intense speculation over opposition unity in Jammu & Kashmir following the restoration of statehood and anticipation of fresh Assembly elections. Her statements signal a readiness to influence the next political dispensation in J\&K — not through power alone, but through policy and principles, especially around the rehabilitation of Kashmiri Pandits and the revival of Indo-Pak dialogue.
