Suhail Rather
Bandipora, Sept 3 : Senior People’s Democratic Party (PDP) leader and former minister Syed Naeem Akhtar Andrabi is set to restart his political journey from his home district Bandipora, a move being seen as both a personal homecoming and an attempt to reclaim political space for the PDP in north Kashmir.
Akhtar, a career bureaucrat who took voluntary retirement in 2008 to join politics, quickly rose through the PDP’s ranks. Within five years, he was nominated to the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Council in 2013. His reputation as an articulate spokesperson and policy mind made him one of the party’s prominent faces.
In 2015, Akhtar was inducted into the council of ministers in the Mufti Mohammad Sayeed-led government as Education Minister. During his tenure, he set up a helpline for students, parents and teachers and advocated for insulating education from political interference. In 2017, under Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti, he was assigned the Public Works Department (PWD), considered one of the most significant portfolios, where he supervised major road and infrastructure projects across the region.
Within the PDP, Akhtar also held the responsibility of Chief Coordinator for the North Kashmir Parliamentary constituency, including Ganderbal, playing a central role in shaping the party’s electoral strategy. Known for his sharp articulation and administrative acumen, he emerged as one of the most influential voices of the party both inside and outside the government.
For Akhtar, launching his comeback here anchors him to his political and personal roots, while for the PDP it signals an effort to revive its relevance in north Kashmir’s crowded political landscape.
Political observers say that although the region’s electoral dynamics have undergone significant changes over the past few years, Akhtar’s administrative background, ministerial experience and local connect may give him a foothold to re-engage with constituents. Whether this momentum translates into electoral gains for the PDP remains uncertain, but his re-entry into the political field has already sparked conversations across Bandipora’s political circles. (KNS)
