Srinagar, Mar 19: The Jammu Kashmir Apni Party, once seen as a rising political force, is reportedly on the verge of becoming a one-man show, with a growing number of its leaders eager to rejoin the Peoples Democratic Party. According to reliable sources, several prominent Apni Party members have established backchannel communications with PDP leadership, seeking a return to their former political home.
Sources indicate that the PDP is carefully evaluating the situation and is likely to take a final call on welcoming back these leaders who had previously distanced themselves from the party. A significant number of PDP members had joined the Apni Party, but the party’s poor performance in both parliamentary and assembly elections has left many ambitious leaders disillusioned about their political future.
“If sources are to be believed, some of the top faces from South Kashmir currently associated with the Apni Party are in constant touch with PDP leaders,” an insider revealed. Two former PDP leaders, Syed Mansoor and Yasir Reshi, recently returned to the party, signaling a potential wave of defections from other parties as well.
The political maneuvering is not limited to South Kashmir alone. Sources told the news agency Kashmir News Trust that some influential political figures from Srinagar also reached out to the PDP with a hope to make a comeback. However, their attempts faced resistance from within the party, as certain PDP leaders opposed their re-entry. One Apni Party leader, after receiving a lukewarm response from PDP, reportedly explored options with another political party.
Political observers foresee a period of intense political activity in the coming months, with party realignments and shifting loyalties becoming the norm. The situation poses a major challenge for Apni Party chief Syed Altaf Bukhari, who may find it increasingly difficult to keep his party intact amidst the growing exodus of leaders.
With uncertainty looming over JKAP’s future and PDP carefully weighing its options, the evolving political landscape in Jammu and Kashmir is set for a significant shake-up in the days ahead. [KNT]
