The Congress seems to be losing its political grip in Kashmir as during the past few days scores of its workers and a former MLA have deserted the grand old party and have joined the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Recently, Gulzar Ahmad Wani, a veteran political figure and former MLA from Shangus, rejoined the PDP after a decade-long stint with the Congress. Wani, known for his stronghold in South Kashmir, was one of the founding members of the PDP during its inception in the late 1990s.
The development came just a day after 40 senior Congress workers from Ganderbal district—a politically sensitive and strategically important region in Central Kashmir—formally joined the PDP.
For the Congress, the latest defections are a cause of serious concern. The party, which has struggled to maintain its relevance in J&K in recent years, now faces the dual challenge of internal dissent and external poaching. The lack of a clear leadership structure and the absence of Kashmir-centric political narrative have left many workers demoralized.
The PDP, on the other hand, appears to be leveraging this moment of Congress vulnerability. Under the leadership of Mehbooba Mufti, the party is attempting a quiet political revival, rebuilding its organizational strength by welcoming back old hands and consolidating support where it still commands respect. By focusing on traditional support bases and re-engaging with disillusioned political actors, the PDP is signaling its intent to re-emerge on the political arena of Kashmir.
While these shifts strengthen the PDP in the short term, they also reflect a broader volatility in J&K politics. The people of Kashmir continue to look for credible, responsive leadership that can articulate their concerns. Any party that wishes to reclaim space must address these ground realities with sincerity and purpose.
In the meantime, the Congress must undertake a serious introspection. Without urgent organizational reforms and a renewed political focus on Kashmir, it risks further marginalization in a region where the political tide waits for none.
For the Congress, people deserting it are more than a passing storm—they point to a structural crisis. The party, which has long struggled to define a coherent political agenda in Jammu and Kashmir, now finds itself grappling with internal disarray and growing irrelevance. |
