Ghulam Nabi Azad, the leader of the Democratic Progressive Azad Party (DPAP), unfortunately will not be able to campaign for his party’s candidates in the upcoming assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir due to health reasons.
Established two years ago by the seasoned Congress veteran, the DPAP has put forward 13 candidates for the first phase of voting in the Union Territory scheduled for September 18. However, their future now hangs in the balance.
On Wednesday, Azad, 75, expressed his regret for not being able to actively participate in campaigning for DPAP candidates. In a statement, he mentioned, “Unforeseen circumstances have led me to withdraw from the campaign trail. Candidates need to consider if they can proceed without me. If they believe my absence could impact their chances, they have the freedom to retract their candidacy.” Azad, a former chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir, conveyed through the DPAP.
This marks the DPAP’s inaugural participation in an assembly election since its inception by Azad in September 2022, following his departure from the Congress party after a long association. Among the 13 nominees for the phase 1 voting, are two former MLAs Abdul Majeed Wani and Mohammad Amin Bhat.
Identified as an ‘alternative’ to regional giants – the National Conference and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the DPAP faced a disappointing start in elections. All three of its Lok Sabha candidates lost their deposits in the 2024 general elections. The situation worsened with key leaders deserting the party ahead of the assembly polls. Notably, treasurer and ex-minister, Taj Mohi-ud-Din, was among those who departed.
Jammu and Kashmir is set to vote in three phases commencing on September 18. This election will signify the first assembly polls held in the former state in a decade.
In the previous assembly election in 2014, the PDP emerged as the largest party with 28 seats, followed closely by the BJP with 25 seats. The PDP, under the leadership of Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, Mehbooba’s father, formed an unexpected alliance with the BJP, despite stark ideological differences.
However, the PDP-BJP government did not complete its term as the BJP withdrew support in 2018. Since then, the former state has been under central rule.
