After NC, PDP to boycott J&K local body polls

SRINAGAR:The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has decided not to take part in the upcoming urban local body and panchayat elections in Jammu and Kashmir in the “current atmosphere of fear”, party chief Mehbooba Mufti said on Monday, days after her rival National Conference (NC) threatened to boycott the polls until the Centre and the local administration took steps to allay apprehensions over Article 35A, which grants special privileges to the militancy-hit state.

“The PDP has been conducting deliberations over local body elections. The present situation is very fragile and sensitive. Unfortunately, the atmosphere has been vitiated because of the linking of Article 35A. So, we passed a resolution on the issue at a meeting today,” said former chief minister, Mufti, whose government collapsed in June after the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) broke its alliance with the PDP.

After a meeting of top PDP leaders at her Srinagar residence, Mufti said, “It was felt that any attempt to impose any electoral exercise in the current atmosphere of fear and apprehension would seriously erode the credibility of the process and institutions. It would defeat the very purpose of it.”

J&K, which is under Governor’s Rule, is tense over apprehensions that Article 35A of the Constitution might be scrapped. The Supreme Court is hearing petitions on Article 35A, which empowers the J&K legislature to define “permanent residents” of the state and provide special

› It was felt that any attempt to impose any electoral exercise in the current atmosphere of fear and apprehension would seriously erode the credibility of institutions and its process. It would defeat its very purpose MEHBOOBA MUFTI, former J&K CM

rights and privileges to them. The court has put off the hearings to January after the Centre and the state government argued that it could lead to a law and order situation ahead of the panchayat and local body elections, slated for October-November.

While Omar Abdullah’s NC has said that it would stay away from the polls unless and until the Centre and the state administration “take effective steps for the protection of Article 35A in and outside the Courts”, the BJP has decided to participate in the elections. The Congress leadership is expected to meet on Tuesday to take a call on the issue.

BJP spokesperson, Altaf Thakur, said that both the PDP and the NC were running away from the elections, which are meant to strengthen democracy.