Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, June 16: The Political Affairs Committee (PAC) of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) met here last evening under the chairmanship of Mufti Mohammad Sayeed to discuss the electoral strategy for the upcoming Assembly elections in the State.
The PAC reviewed the political situation of the State in light of the results of the Lok Sabha elections in which the party swept the Kashmir valley winning all three Parliamentary seats. The ruling coalition faced a complete white wash.
The party patron Mufti Mohammad Sayeed while expressing his appreciation for the well organised election campaign said the ability of the party leaders and workers in carrying its message to the voters had been crucial to their mobilisation. He said the absence of negativity in the party’s poll discourse, clear agenda and our ability to identify actual issues had brought the PDP to the centre stage of State’s political scenario. The renewed and broad based faith of the people earned by the party had not only made it the premier political party of the State but has added to its challenges in view of the difficult situation created by the present coalition, he said.
Mufti said peace and development along with a special focus on issues facing the youth, especially employment generation should continue to guide party’s policies and agenda. He said the party would continue to provide an inclusive platform for all regions and communities of the State for opportunities of growth. “It is unfortunate that the elections in many areas were driven by a communal polarisation and it would be necessary to reverse this trend for building a modern welfare state” said Mufti.
Mufti said there are strong indicators that the PDP is headed for victory in the Assembly elections as well but the LS election results should not lead to complacency. “We have to continue with our mass contact program and organisational activities to seek a decisive mandate from the people for a strong and accountable Government” Mufti said and added the people must get a dependable alternative which can address their problems, curb corruption, ensure upholding of human rights and offers a new world to youth.
Apart from the party president Mehbooba Mufti, those who participated include senior leader and MP Muzaffar Hussain Baig, Maulvi Iftikhar Hussain Ansari, Tariq Hameed Qarra MP, S Rangeel Singh, general secretaries, M Dilawar Mir and Yashpal Sharma, Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari, Dr Sameer Kaul, Tarlok Singh Bajwa and Naeem Akhtar.
A spokesman of the party said the names of party candidates were discussed considering different parameters. He said for a party which happens to be the youngest political organisation of the State it was a matter of satisfaction that the selection has to be made from multiple choices. He said the PAC recorded the contribution of all contenders for the party mandate and the obvious inability to accommodate all of them should not shut doors on their growth within the party. “The PDP is a vibrant and growing party based on democratic principles and every worker will receive due place and opportunity to serve people through different democratic institutions which have been made dysfunctional by the present Government” the spokesman said.
The list of candidates will be released shortly, he added.
Meanwhile, Mufti today said that PDP, being a trusted and credible voice of the people of State, would play historic role to change political discourse of Jammu and Kashmir. He reiterated that PDP would facilitate any meaningful initiative to solve Kashmir issue.
“Our party, through its convictions and commitments, had earlier convinced successive Governments at New Delhi to take bold initiatives for restoring lasting peace in this region”, Mufti said while addressing a function here.
He especially mentioned that PDP led coalition, without compromising with the dignity of the people of the State, had pursued the reconciliatory process which was endorsed by successive Governments at New Delhi. He reiterated that PDP would play the role of peace facilitator to establish sustainable peace in this sub-continent.
He said that aim of his party was to create an atmosphere of peace and stability in Jammu and Kashmir. Seeking support of the people to solve all contentious issues, Mufti said the PDP has created a new space within the democratic system for the resolution of Kashmir issue. “Having emerged as a strong regional force, PDP has to play a crucial role in the new democratic discourse for the resolution of Kashmir issue”, he said.
Exhorting party cadre to educate people about PDP’s agenda of peace and development, Mufti said that in the recently concluded Lok Sabha elections people of State have given a clear message of change. “With the support of the people, PDP is committed to change the present corrupt and inept dispensation to establish a new system of justice and equality in Jammu and Kashmir”, he said.
“After 2002 elections, PDP had proved how to carry forward, simultaneously, the agenda of peace and reconciliation along with the good governance”, he said and reminded the gathering that PDP had set an example of governance by bringing transparency and accountability in the administration. Reiterating resolve of his party to bring people of different regions and sub-regions of the State together by bridging the gap, Mufti asserted that PDP would remove the trust deficit between people of the Jammu and Kashmir and rest of the country.
“During our tenure we had proved how to treat all regions and sub-regions equally and party would further facilitate the process of bridging the gap to ensure justice and equality to all regions and sub-regions”, Mufti said.
Calling upon party workers to agitate for people’s issues, PDP patron said that system has completely collapsed in the State and there was no Government on the ground. “Being a responsible opposition party, it is duty of the PDP cadre to force the State Government to solve day today problems of the common masses”, he said.
Trending Now
E-Paper
Follow our WhatsApp channel