Says ‘underperformance of ministers, BJP pullout’ stalled growth
Discusses probable candidates
PDP president Mehbooba Mufti, who met the delegations of party leaders from twin border districts of Rajouri and Poonch here, also held discussions on the names of probable candidates from seven Assembly constituencies in these districts.
Jammu: Amid uncertainty over the conduct of the Assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir, former Chief Minister and PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti on Wednesday asked the party cadre to gear up for the poll, claiming that the PDP would “emerge as the single largest political party” in the next elections.
The PDP chief, who met the delegations of party leaders from twin border districts of Rajouri and Poonch here, also held discussions on the names of probable candidates from seven Assembly constituencies in these districts.
Mehbooba, according to insiders, told party leaders that the PDP would emerge as the “single largest political party” in the next Assembly elections and could win more than 30 seats.
In a bid to boost sagging morale of the party cadre following desertions of senior leaders, Mehbooba said that the decision of some leaders to quit party would not make much impact as the “PDP has earned trust and faith of the people of J&K through its conviction and commitment”.
The insiders said Mehbooba told the leaders that the PDP, established by her father late Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, was a “mass based party” and the “individual decision” of some leaders to leave the PDP would hardly change the perception of the public.
“The PDP president was of the opinion that it was firstly the underperformance of some ministers in her Cabinet and later the BJP decision to withdraw support to coalition stalled the developmental process,” they said.
One of the party leaders from Rajouri, who declined to be named, said, “Mehboobaji discussed the present situation in Rajouri and Pooch districts and asked all leadersto gear up for the Assembly poll. All leaders, in one voice, assured her that they are united and the party cadre is fully intact”.