Do not waste your vote by backing NC, says PDP's Mehbooba Mufti

, Nov 11: Jammu and Kashmir Peoples Democratic Party (

) president

has appealed to the people of the Chenab valley not to waste their votes by casting them in favour the National Conference which, she claimed, "is a defeated force now".

[Read: PDP will strive for lasting peace: Mufti Mohammad Sayeed]

"National Conference is a defeated force now and I hope the people of Kishtwar too will reject it the way people of the Kashmir Valley have done," Mufti said at a public rally in Kishtwar yesterday.

"Don't waste your vote by going with a single digit party," she said while seeking mandate for her party's candidate for Kishtwar constituency Firdous Tak.

"We appeal to the people of the Kishtwar constituency to vote for our party in the assembly elections. we hope that the people living in the mountainous region too will this time around reject NC which has wasted decades of J&K," she said.

Mehbooba said the people of Kishtwar can't afford to go with National Conference now which has been already decimated by the people in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections.

The electoral contest is now mainly between PDP and BJP casting votes for NC or Congress would be a sheer wastage of your power to change, she told the people.

Mehbooba said her party is fighting the elections to uphold Jammu and Kashmir's special position, protect its distinct identity, undertake a massive development programme and resolve the political, social and economic issues facing the state.

"Our aim is not only to see Jammu and Kashmir on the path of progress and peace but we want to ensure the unique identity of the state and its people is protected at any cost," she said.

PTI