Days after the National Conference decided to boycott panchayat elections in Jammu and Kashmir, the Mehbooba Mufti-led PDP on Monday also opted for staying away from the local polls. Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister and PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti said they will not contest the polls as the prevailing situation was not favourable. “We will go to any extent to protect Article 35A,” said Mufti. The state government last week announced the schedule for holding elections to local bodies and panchayats in the state. While the urban local body polls are slated for the first week of October, the Panchayat elections are scheduled to be held in November-December this year. 

Days after the National Conference decided to boycott panchayat elections in Jammu and Kashmir, the Mehbooba Mufti-led PDP on Monday also opted for staying away from the local polls. Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister and PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti said they will not contest the polls as the prevailing situation was not favourable. “We will go to any extent to protect Article 35A,” said Mufti. The state government last week announced the schedule for holding elections to local bodies and panchayats in the state. While the urban local body polls are slated for the first week of October, the Panchayat elections are scheduled to be held in November-December this year.