Srinagar: Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) MLA Waheed Para on Friday announced that his party legislators will vote for the ruling National Conference (NC) candidates in the Rajya Sabha elections, citing the “larger interest” of Jammu and Kashmir.
Speaking to reporters inside the Assembly complex, where polling for four Rajya Sabha seats is underway, Para said the PDP’s decision came after the NC assured support for two of its Bills — one on land regularisation and another concerning daily wagers.
“We have brought two Bills which we hope will be tabled in the House. We decided to support the NC based on their commitment to back these Bills, and for the larger interest of Jammu and Kashmir. We believe it is better to support the NC, which is contesting against the BJP in these polls,” Para said.
He added that the decision was taken by PDP president Mehbooba Mufti, who felt the NC’s assurances aligned with the party’s priorities. “Keeping this in mind, all PDP votes will go to the NC,” the Pulwama MLA said.
On his resolution seeking restoration of the J&K Waqf Board and transferring its custodianship to the Muttahid-e-Majlis-e-Ulema (MMU) — a body led by Mirwaiz Umar Farooq — Para said he wanted religious institutions and shrines to be managed by local Muslim leadership under the MMU.
Para also called for the release of AAP MLA Mehraj Malik, who was detained last month under the Public Safety Act (PSA) in Doda district. “It was an illegal arrest. We are against it,” he said.
