BANIHAL: Around 150 political workers and activists, mainly from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), besides the Congress, BJP and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), joined the Jammu and Kashmir National Conference at a function held in Banihal on Wednesday.
Welcoming the new entrants, Banihal-Gool MLA Sajjad Shaheen said the joining of workers from different political parties reflected a shift in the political mood across the constituency and growing confidence in the National Conference.
“This is the second major joining in just two weeks, with prominent political activists from different parties from Gool-Sangaldan choosing to join the National Conference. This is not merely a change of political affiliation; it reflects the growing trust people have placed in the NC’s politics of dignity, representation and public service,” Shaheen said.
Among those who joined the party were PDP Block President Mohd Rafiq Ganai, senior PDP leader Jamaldin Mir, PDP ST Block Vice President Choudhary Mumtaz, AAP Youth Block President Ishad Malik and senior BJP leader Uttam Singh Rai, besides several other workers and activists.
Shaheen said the growing support for the National Conference was also linked to the leadership of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and claimed that the government had initiated a new phase of development across Jammu and Kashmir despite the limitations of the Union Territory set-up.
“Under the leadership of Omar Abdullah, a new era of development has begun across regions of Jammu and Kashmir. Despite the limitations of the present UT framework and the challenges before the government, the focus remains firmly on development, connectivity, public services and addressing the long-pending needs of the people,” he said.
The MLA also targeted the PDP, saying the continuing departure of workers from the party reflected public disappointment with its past political decisions.
He referred to the PDP’s earlier alliance with the BJP and alleged that the partnership had contributed to political disempowerment and erosion of public trust.
“People have understood the difference between those who stood by their aspirations and those who compromised them for political convenience,” Shaheen said.
He maintained that the induction of workers from different political backgrounds showed that the National Conference continued to be a credible political platform for people who believed in democratic values, political dignity and the rights of the people of Jammu and Kashmir.
Shaheen assured the new members that their experience and contribution would strengthen the party at the grassroots level and said the National Conference remained open to those committed to public service, democratic politics and people’s welfare.
Former DDC Chairperson Shamshada Shan, Block President Sangaldan Jan Mohammad Chandail, Mohd Afzal Giri, Musyad Ahmed Naik, Mehboob Ul Mukhtiar Bhat and Abdul Gani Khakmat, along with other senior party leaders, functionaries and workers, were present on the occasion.
