J&K: PDP follows National Conference, boycotts panchayat polls over Article 35A

The Mehbooba Mufti-led People's Democratic Party on Monday said it will not contest the upcoming municipal and panchayat polls in Jammu and Kashmir and asked the government to review its decision to hold elections amid an atmosphere of insecurity.

"There was a sense of insecurity among the people of the state with the "sword of Article 35A dangling on our heads". She said the party had unanimously decided to stay away from the electoral exercise," said Mehbooba.

The Supreme Court is hearing a bunch of petitions challenging the validity of Article 35A and has deferred the hearing till January.

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Barring the BJP, all mainstream parties, including National Conference, PDP, Congress, the separatists, traders, lawyers, and civil society groups favour continuation of Article 35A and have warned against any tinkering with the law.

Article 35A, which gives special rights to people in the state and bars outsiders from owning immovable property, has been challenged in the Supreme Court.

The apex court had on August 31 deferred the hearing on a bunch of petitions challenging Article 35A of the Constitution, as the Centre urged the court to take up the matter after panchayat elections in the state.