Srinagar, October 24, 2025 — Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chief Mehbooba Mufti announced on Thursday that her party would support the ruling National Conference (NC) in the upcoming Rajya Sabha elections in Jammu and Kashmir, citing the need for opposition unity against the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
Speaking at a press conference in Srinagar, Mehbooba Mufti said that while she does not believe the NC is “worthy of trust or votes,” the PDP has chosen to back the party “for a greater goal — to protect the rights of Jammu and Kashmir and strengthen the INDIA alliance, which is fighting a serious battle today.”
Mufti confirmed that the PDP’s three MLAs will cast their votes for the NC’s third candidate in Friday’s polls but will not vote for the fourth seat. “Our support is limited to the third seat only,” she clarified, adding that the move is intended to ensure that the BJP does not gain further ground in the Rajya Sabha.
The PDP chief revealed that NC president Farooq Abdullah had spoken to her personally seeking support. She said her decision was based on “larger political responsibility” and added that in return, her party expects the NC to back PDP’s land and employment-related bills in the Assembly, including the Jammu and Kashmir Land Rights and Regularisation Bill, 2025 — often referred to as the “Anti-Bulldozer Bill” — aimed at protecting long-term occupants from eviction.
The Congress party, too, has extended full support to the NC candidates for what it called “the larger cause of preserving J&K’s democratic ethos and blocking BJP’s expansion,” putting aside its differences with the NC for this election.
Voting for the four Rajya Sabha seats in Jammu and Kashmir is scheduled for today, marking the first such election since the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019 .
