PDP declines to partake in Centre-led delimitation process in J&K

Alleging that the outcome is widely believed to be pre-planned, People’s Democratic Party has refused to participate in the delimitation process in Jammu and Kashmir.

The party led by Mehbooba Mufti has also questioned the constitutional and legal mandate of the Delimitation Commission.

Unhappy with the lack of any substantive outcome from Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s all party meeting with the J&K leaders, which the PDP called ‘a mere photo opportunity”, the regional party has declined to meet the Commission for discussion on redrawing boundaries of existing Assembly seats in the region.

In a letter addressed to the head of the Commission, PDP General Secretary Ghulam Nabi Lone Hanjura expressed discontentment with the Centre over bridging the deepening divide between Delhi and Srinagar.

Out of the 10 political parties invited for consultations with the 3-member commission, 9 parties including the National Conference will attend the meet in Srinagar on Tuesday.