Junaid Ali 

Tral, June 10 : In a major political development in south Kashmir’s Tral constituency, dozens of senior National Conference (NC) workers on Wednesday joined the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), marking a significant setback for the NC at the grassroots level ahead of evolving political realignments in the region.

The joining ceremony was attended by senior PDP leader Iltija Mufti, Tral MLA Rafiq Ahmad Naikoo and several other party functionaries.

Among the prominent leaders who joined the PDP were NC Block President Ghulam Mohammad Kantroo, Mohammad Ashraf Rather, Master Ghulam Mohi-ud-Din and a number of veteran party workers associated with the NC for several years.

Welcoming the new entrants into the party fold, Iltija Mufti said the growing support for the PDP reflected the people’s trust in the party’s leadership and its commitment towards addressing public concerns. She said the inclusion of experienced political workers would further strengthen the PDP’s organisational structure in Tral and other adjoining areas.

“People are once again placing their confidence in the PDP because of its consistent connection with grassroots issues and public aspirations,” she said during the event.

MLA Rafiq Ahmad Naikoo expressed gratitude to the workers for joining the PDP and said their entry would provide fresh momentum to the party cadre at the local level. He reiterated the party’s commitment towards development, welfare and effective public representation in the constituency.

The newly-inducted members said they were impressed by the PDP’s people-centric approach and leadership, adding that they would work collectively to strengthen the party across Tral.

Political observers described the development as an important shift in Tral’s political landscape, stating that the defection of experienced NC workers could influence future electoral and organisational dynamics in the region.