The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Tuesday hinted at being open to a grand alliance in J&K ahead of the Assembly elections “to safeguard J&K’s special status”.

“A coordinated political initiative was needed to restore the political authority of people of the State and protect the core interests of J&K,” PDP’s chief spokesman Rafi Ahmad Mir said. “The party is open to coordination and reaching out to safeguard J&K’s core interests,” he added.

The PDP’s Political Affairs Committee, presided over by party president Mehbooba Mufti, arrived at the new approach at a meeting attended by party patron Muzaffar Hussain Baigh and senior leaders Abdul Rahman Veeri and Naeem Akhtar.

Mr. Mir said party leaders had expressed apprehensions over the onslaught on the special status of J&K. “The onslaught is multi-dimensional. Every attempt is being made to politically disempower the citizens of J&K,” he asserted. “Efforts are being made to create a vertical political split in order to choke and curb regional aspirations.”