The Jammu and Kashmir Peoples Democratic Party (JKPDP or PDP) is a state political party in Jammu and Kashmir, India. The PDP was headed and founded by Mufti Mohammed Sayeed. His daughter, Mehbooba Mufti, succeeded him as party leader and as Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir following his death in January 2016.It was founded in the year 1999 by Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, the former Union Home Minister in the V.P. Singh's regime Jan Morcha. A former member of the Indian National Congress, Sayeed parted ways with the Congress to join Jan Morcha in 1989. He rejoined the Congress within a brief span of time, which he ultimately quit, to form the JKPDP, along with his daughter Mehbooba Mufti in July 1999.
The Peoples Democratic Party is not presenting a solution; nor does it pretend to have one. Indeed, it is our belief that roadmaps prejudge the issue; readymade solutions make the problem a distorted image of what it actually is; and models make a mockery of specificity of the issue. As such, what we have attempted in Self Rule document is an internally consistent framework and indicative direction for resolution.Among the various parties in the state of Jammu & Kashmir, which are having an active role in the scenario of politics in the state, the Jammu and Kashmir People’s Democratic Party has played a prominent role. The party came into force in 1999. One of the members involved in the establishment of this party was Mr. Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, who was also the Union Home Minister of the country.
In the year 2004, the party had its biggest achievement, when the elections for the state assembly were won by it and the government in the state was formed by the party. The chief minister was Mufti Mohammad Sayeed and remained in the position till 2005. During this period, it was able to get one member, in both lower and upper houses of parliament. During the assembly elections which the party won, it was in alliance with the UPA government. PDP’s present day president is Mrs. Mehbooba Mufti.The essence of Self Rule document lies in trying to suggest a creative framework for resolution of the issue without compromising the sovereignty of the two nation states involved.
In the 2014 general election, three of its members were elected to the Lok Sabha. Its strength in the Legislative Assembly is 28 and in the Rajya Sabha is two. The party is currently running a Coalition government in Jammu and Kashmir with the Bharatiya Janata Party.The PDP operates on the ideology of self-rule, as distinctly different from the issues of autonomy. It believes that self-rule as a political philosophy, as opposed to autonomy, ensures the empowerment of the people of Jammu and Kashmir, while further engaging in debates over new political territoriality of Jammu and Kashmir.
The Election Symbol of the JKPDP, as approved by the Election Commission of India, is "Ink pot and pen". It is usually drawn on a green-coloured map of the state of Jammu and Kashmir. The Election Symbol of the JKPDP is significant as it represents the objectives of the party. The JKPDP ensures that a new future is assigned to the people of J&K, different from the growing tensions and increased crises that the state is facing, owing to issues of territoriality. The symbol is an attempt to persuade the Indian government to adopt a policy of reconciliation and engage in extensive unconditional dialogues with the people of the state, over the historic Kashmir issue. A new future must be written for the land, claims the JKPDP.
Address and contact details
Official Website of JKPDP: http://jkpdp.org/
Head-Office Address of JKPDP: 2, Circuit House, Emporium Lane, Residency Road, Srinagar 191001, Jammu & Kashmir
Contact Numbers - (0194) 2483422
Jammu Office Address of JKPDP: A-2, Govt. Quarter, Gandhinagar, Jammu 180004, Jammu & Kashmir
Contact Numbers - (0191) 2451228
Email id: info@jkpdp.org