Mehbooba Mufti Declines Assembly Election Participation Amid Jammu and Kashmir’s Status Downgrade

Mehbooba Mufti, President of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has announced that she will not be running in the upcoming Assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir. Her decision comes in response to the region’s recent reduction to municipal status.

In a statement from Srinagar, Mufti highlighted that the loss of Jammu and Kashmir’s special status and its subsequent downgrade to a municipal entity were key factors in her decision. She underscored that her previous electoral participation was based on the region’s autonomous status, which included its own constitution, flag, and a robust legislative assembly.

Mufti criticized the current political environment caused by Indian government, where the Chief Minister must seek permission from the Lieutenant Governor for most decisions. She argued that this arrangement undermines the legislative autonomy and effectiveness that once existed, making it untenable for her to engage in the electoral process under these conditions.