“Mehbooba reelection as President proves PDP a dynastic Party”

Rameez Makhdoomi, KNB
Srinagar, Dec 02: Dynasty politics has been defined as the curse of South Asia with Kashmir being no exception, as Peoples Democratic Party’s Electoral College met in winter capital of Jammu today, Chief Minister Mehbooba was ‘unanimously’ elected as head of the party.
With not even a strong contestant against Mehbooba Mufti goes on to prove deep rooted dynastic nature of PDP, according to many analysts .
Ironically, PDP as opposition party used to always target National Conference as being dynastic in nature and virtually being fiefdom of Abdullahs.

Pertinently, as the president of her Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Mehbooba Mufti was elected for the record sixth consecutive time. As a matter of fact, Mehbooba is occupying the post since 2003 when she for the first time became the president of the party after her father, Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, became the Chief Minister in 2002.
A political analyst stated – “Dynasty or family politics has been often associated with the Politics of Sub Continent. India, Pakistan have seen few families ruling over long periods of time and the Jammu and Kashmir state too since last few decades has seen few families running the show. The election of Mehbooba Mufti as party president for record sixth time without any strong election or contest shows PDP too is just a perfect example of dynasty politics.”
On ground, analysts and voices maintain that PDP trying to rebrand itself as a political force that is not dynastic has not worked much due to its own dynastic work style.
(Kashmir News Bureau)