PDP eyes youth surge for revival amid historic election setbacks

SRINAGAR — After suffering significant setbacks in both the Lok Sabha and Assembly elections, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) is looking toward youth leadership to revamp its organizational structure.

As the party navigates the changing political landscape of Jammu and Kashmir, it plans to prioritize public outreach and grassroots engagement, with a focus on identifying potential candidates for the upcoming Panchayat and Municipal elections.

Sources privy to this development, quoted by the news agency KNO, said that the PDP is set to increase the involvement of young leaders, including Iltija Mufti and Waheed-ur-Rehman Para, in its revival efforts.

“The renewed strategy aligns with party president Mehbooba Mufti’s vision of transforming the PDP into a dynamic force, driven by youth energy but guided by seasoned political hands,” sources divulged.

In the most recent elections, the PDP was reduced to three seats in the Assembly, failing to secure any representation in the Lok Sabha. Mehbooba Mufti, who did not contest the Assembly elections, saw her daughter Iltija Mufti make her electoral debut from Bijbehara—considered a PDP stronghold—only to suffer a defeat.

This was the worst electoral performance in the party’s history since its formation in 1999. Following the losses, Mehbooba dissolved all party units and abolished the spokesperson panel to initiate a complete overhaul of the organization.

A senior PDP leader, speaking on the condition of anonymity, disclosed that a recent high-level meeting chaired by Mehbooba Mufti analyzed the factors behind the party’s electoral decline. The consensus in the meeting was that the PDP’s 2014 alliance with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) had alienated its core voter base, particularly in Kashmir. The exodus of several senior leaders over the past five years further fragmented the party’s vote bank.

Despite the setbacks, the PDP sees an opportunity to rebuild by tapping into the support of the youth, who, according to party insiders, still resonate with the party’s agenda.

Mehbooba Mufti aims to reorganize the PDP with leaders who can actively engage with the public and strengthen the party’s connection with grassroots communities. “We want to build a party of the youth, for the youth,” said a PDP official, adding that the intention is to restore the PDP’s influence in the region, especially in Kashmir.

A panel comprising senior leaders Abdul Rehman Veeri, Sartaj Madni, Hameed Chaudhary and Ghulam Nabi Lone Hanjura has been tasked with setting up district and regional units. The panel will gather feedback from workers at the Panchayat level, assessing the party’s standing and the effectiveness of local leaders based on voting patterns in the recent elections.