NC and PDP: A Political Overview

• 09 Oct 2024

Why in News?

The Jammu & Kashmir Legislative Assembly elections of 2024 have seen the National Conference (NC) and Congress alliance leading, with the People's Democratic Party (PDP) trailing behind.

Key Points

• Jammu & Kashmir National Conference (NC):
  • Founded in 1932 by Sheikh Muhammad Abdullah.
  • Emerged as a powerful political force advocating for Kashmiri rights and land reforms.
  • After Independence, Maharaja Hari Singh signed the Instrument of Accession in 1947 amidst a Pakistani invasion.
  • Sheikh Abdullah was appointed Prime Minister of an interim government in 1948.
  • The NC won 73 of 75 seats in the 1951 elections for the Constituent Assembly of J&K.
  • Sheikh Abdullah was dismissed and jailed in 1953, reportedly under Prime Minister Nehru’s orders, due to concerns over Abdullah’s links with Pakistan.
  • Abdullah returned to power after an accord with Indira Gandhi in 1975.
  • Sheikh Abdullah’s son, Farooq, succeeded him in 1982.
  • Militancy and the 1990s:
    • The 1990s saw the rise of militancy in the region, with the NC's political dominance weakening.
  • Post-2000 Political Alliances:
    • The NC briefly aligned with the BJP-led NDA in 1999.
    • Since then, NC has intermittently allied with Congress, including in the 2019 elections under the INDI Alliance.
    • Since the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019, the NC has called for the restoration of J&K’s special status.
• Peoples Democratic Party (PDP):
  • Founded in 1999 by Mufti Mohammed Sayeed after leaving the Congress.
  • Sayeed’s political career started in the Democratic National Conference, an NC splinter group.
  • Sayeed briefly served as India’s first Kashmiri Muslim Home Minister (1989-91) in the V P Singh government.
  • The PDP came to power in 2002 in coalition with the Congress, with Sayeed serving as CM.
  • Alliance with BJP (2014):
    • In 2014, the PDP entered into an alliance with the BJP, a controversial decision given their ideological differences.
    • Mufti Mohammed Sayeed passed away in 2016, and his daughter Mehbooba Mufti took over as party leader.
  • The PDP, like the NC, has demanded the restoration of Article 370 since its abrogation.
  • The PDP’s political influence has waned in recent years, with only 3 seats won in the 2024 elections.

State Party

• A party is recognised as a state party in a state if any of the following conditions is fulfilled:
  • If it secures 6% of the valid votes polled in the state at a general election to the respective state legislative assembly (state LA) and also, it wins 2 seats in the same state LA.
  • If it secures 6% of the total valid votes in the state at a general election to the LS; and also, it wins 1 seat in the LS from the same state.
  • If it wins 3% of seats in the LA at a general election to the legislative assembly of the state concerned or 3 seats in the assembly (whichever is more).
  • If it wins 1 seat in the LS for every 25 seats or any fraction thereof allotted to the state at a general election to the LS from the state concerned.
  • If it secures 8% of the total valid votes polled in the state at a General Election to the LS from the state or to the State LA.