A former leader of the Hurriyat Conference Salim Gilani joined the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) on Sunday. The move comes as Kashmir gears up for its Assembly elections, attracting several former separatists and their associates into mainstream politics. Gilani was welcomed into the PDP by party chief Mehbooba Mufti and is expected to run for a seat in Srinagar.

Gilani is among several former separatists or their family members who are now entering electoral politics. Following the decision of the Jamaat-e-Islami, a separatist group, to field candidates in the upcoming elections, other prominent figures have also made similar moves.

Ghulam Nabi Shaheen, a senior member of the High Court Bar Association, is campaigning for the party of jailed Baramulla MP Sheikh Abdul Rashid, also known as Engineer Rashid. Besides, Aga Syed Muntazir, son of Hurriyat leader Aga Syed Hassan, has joined the PDP, while Javaid Hubi, son of former separatist Dr. Ghulam Mohammad Hubi, has aligned with Engineer Rashid’s Awami Itehaad Party. Explaining his decision to join the PDP, Gilani said that he has always been inspired by the party’s stance on resolving the Kashmir issue and advocating for the release of detainees.