Omar Abdullah Slams PDP: “They Do Nothing But Deceive the Public” | NC Chief Hits Out at PDP’s Political Tactics in Budgam Rally
By: Javid Amin | November 7, 2025
Jammu & Kashmir Chief Minister and National Conference (NC) leader Omar Abdullah has launched a blistering attack on the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), accusing it of “deceiving the public” and “misleading people through hollow promises.”
Addressing a public gathering in Budgam as part of his campaign trail ahead of the upcoming by-elections, Omar Abdullah alleged that the PDP “has made a habit of exploiting people’s emotions for political mileage while delivering nothing concrete on the ground.”
“The PDP does nothing but deceive the public. They talk about change, but their track record is full of false promises and failed governance,” Abdullah said, drawing cheers from a packed crowd.
Power Politics: Meters, Promises, and Public Trust
Central to Omar Abdullah’s attack was the issue of electricity metering — a recurring flashpoint in Kashmir’s governance debates. The Chief Minister accused the PDP of hypocrisy, saying the party had “quietly installed electricity meters in government offices” during its previous term but failed to extend benefits to ordinary consumers.
“They installed meters in secret but never ensured fair billing or relief for the public,” Abdullah remarked. “Our government has pledged 200 free units of electricity to households, and that is a promise we will keep.”
The electricity issue resonates deeply with voters across rural Kashmir, where inconsistent supply, billing disputes, and winter shortages often dominate public discourse. By positioning himself as the defender of “fair access” to power, Omar Abdullah sought to contrast NC’s welfare-oriented approach with what he called PDP’s “selective governance.”
Accusations of Misrule and Political Opportunism
Omar Abdullah didn’t stop at power supply issues. He widened his criticism, accusing the PDP of misgovernance, political opportunism, and even using administrative powers for personal gain during its previous tenure.
He claimed that the PDP’s time in power was “marked by mismanagement, arbitrary arrests, and a disconnect from ground realities,” echoing sentiments shared by several opposition voices in recent years.
“They arrested innocent people, ignored their suffering, and now have the audacity to claim they care about development,” Abdullah said.
“The PDP remembers the public only when elections are near.”
His comments appeared to target PDP president Mehbooba Mufti, whose party has recently been attempting to revive its political presence through grassroots outreach campaigns and alliance-building efforts.
Alliance Shadows: PDP’s “Lingering Ties” with BJP
In a pointed reference to past alliances, Omar Abdullah suggested that the PDP continues to act under the influence of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) — its former partner in the 2015–2018 coalition government.
“The people of Jammu and Kashmir still haven’t forgotten how the PDP invited the BJP into the Valley,” Abdullah said. “Even today, their decisions carry the shadow of that alliance.”
The PDP-BJP coalition, which collapsed in 2018, remains one of the most contentious chapters in J&K’s recent political history. While the PDP has since distanced itself from the BJP, its opponents continue to use that partnership as evidence of “double standards” and “ideological compromise.”
Omar’s remarks came just days before the Budgam bypoll, where the PDP is fielding Aga Syed Ruhullah, a prominent Shia cleric and political leader, while the NC’s Aga Syed Mehmood — from the same influential family — is running as his rival.
The remarks were thus as much a political critique as a strategic strike ahead of the high-stakes vote.
A Charged Election Climate
The timing of Omar Abdullah’s comments underscores the intensity of the ongoing electoral season in Jammu and Kashmir. Both Budgam and Nagrota constituencies are set for bypolls on November 11, 2025 — contests seen as litmus tests for the NC-led government’s popularity, BJP’s regional base, and the PDP’s survival in post-Article 370 politics.
Political observers note that Omar’s speech reflects a deliberate attempt to consolidate NC’s support base by contrasting his administration’s welfare initiatives — such as power subsidies, employment drives, and infrastructure investments — with what he calls PDP’s “legacy of deceit.”
“We are here to rebuild people’s faith in democracy,” he told the gathering.
“Unlike others, we won’t run away from accountability.”
Context: A Region in Political Flux
Since the restoration of Jammu and Kashmir’s elected government earlier this year, regional politics have been dominated by questions of autonomy, representation, and economic recovery. The NC’s alliance with Congress has provided administrative stability, but friction with opposition parties — particularly the PDP and BJP — continues to shape public debate.
For the PDP, rebuilding credibility remains an uphill task. Once seen as a moderate alternative, the party’s base eroded following its 2015 alliance with the BJP and the subsequent breakdown of governance in 2018.
Omar Abdullah’s latest attack appears aimed at keeping the PDP on the defensive — painting it as untrustworthy and disconnected from people’s aspirations.
The Road Ahead
With just days left before the bypolls, the Budgam contest is fast emerging as a symbolic battleground for Kashmir’s Shia leadership and regional identity politics. Meanwhile, in Nagrota, the BJP is fighting to retain its foothold in Jammu amid growing anti-incumbency sentiment.
The outcome of these elections will not only test party loyalties but could also set the tone for Jammu & Kashmir’s 2026 general elections — the first full-fledged polls since the state’s reorganization.
As political temperatures rise, Omar Abdullah’s message in Budgam reflects the NC’s broader strategy: to project governance stability while discrediting rivals as unreliable and opportunistic.
In Summary:
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Omar Abdullah accused PDP of deceiving the public and exploiting emotional issues.
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Highlighted NC’s promise of 200 free electricity units.
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Criticized PDP’s past alliance with BJP and alleged governance failures.
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Speech comes amid high-stakes Budgam and Nagrota bypolls.
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Signals a sharpening political divide in post-statehood J&K.
