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PDP leaders who left post Article 370 abrogation look to return to party fold
Confirming the development, PDP spokesperson Mohit Bhan said that many leaders had established contact with party
Out of the 24 former legislators, ministers, parliament members and senior leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party who quit after abrogation of Article 370, around half are looking to return to the fold and have contacted the top leadership, sources within the party privy to the developments said.
The leaders had quit party soon after abrogation of Article 370 and bifurcation of Jammu and Kashmir into two Union territories, J&K and Ladakh. Sources within the PDP said they are discussing whether party should give them a second chance.
Confirming the development, PDP spokesperson Mohit Bhan said that many leaders had established contact with party. “The party workers have unanimously left the decision of taking back leaders to party president. Given that many of these have breached the trust of people while a few were forced to leave the party, the president is evaluating it before taking any call on the matter,” he said.
The former legislators and senior leaders have realised after sensing the situation that they would not be able to thrive politically, especially post abrogation of Article 370, when PDP and National Conference have emerged as the only vibrant parties.
Even some former ministers and legislators have sent direct emissaries to party president Mehbooba Mufti, seeking re-entry in the party.
“Yes, many ministers and legislators who had left party after 2018 have expressed their willingness to rejoin,” said a senior PDP leader is privy to details, wishing not to be named. “A political party never closes its doors,” he added.
Another senior PDP leader said that top party leaders are sympathetic towards some leaders, however inclusion of many former leaders was being criticised. “The re-entry should be without any pre-conditions or guarantee of party tickets, then only former leaders should be included.” he said.
In 2014 assembly elections, the PDP had emerged as the single largest party in J&K, winning 28 seats. Of late, new faces, especially youth, have joined the party in north Kashmir and Srinagar, giving hope to the party.
“In last elections, the PDP won seats from Srinagar, Baramulla, Kupwara and Budgam. It was weak in these regions as almost all big leaders on whom party had invested had left the party. It will take years till new leadership will emerge to replace the old guard,” said a former leader who wants to come back in the fold.
“If PDP wants to strengthen its base, then they need to take them back. Political parties are never rigid but flexible that could benefit the party in long way,” he added.
Leaders within PDP say a section of political leadership is opposing the entry of old faces. “They ditched when party needed them. And we can’t be dishonest to those people who joined party when people were scared being part of us,” said a senior leader.
Aseem Bhat , a political analyst, said given the political environment of the region, the politicians who changed their loyalties have understood new political arrangements post 2019.
He said New Delhi didn’t come to their favour or give any surety of their political prospectus that has further alienated them both at party level and at grassroots.
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