Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chief Mehbooba Mufti has said she will not contest an assembly poll as long as Article 370 is not restored.
“I am never going to fight assembly elections as long as Article 370 is not restored. It’s more of an emotional issue for me,” Mufti was quoted as saying by the news agency PTI.
“Whenever I took an oath [as J&K Chief Minister], it was under two constitutions — the Constitution of India and the Constitution of JK — with two flags at the same time,” Mufti said.
Recently, when asked about the assembly polls in JK and the role of PDP, she said, “When the election takes place is not my priority but the people of Jammu and Kashmir are facing in difficulties in the aftermath of the 2019 development.”
On August 5, 2019, the BJP-led government revoked Article 370 of the Constitution of India, which granted a special status to the state of Jammu and Kashmir. The move was opposed by various parties, including Mufti’s PDP, as it meant that Kashmir will no longer have a separate constitution but will have to abide by the Indian constitution.
