Azad’s absence likely to impact his fledgling party in J&K

Srinagar: The Democratic Progressive Azad Party (DPAP), founded by former Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad just two years ago, has virtually downed its shutters after Azad stepped back from campaigning for party candidates, citing bad health.Azad formed DPAP in Sept 2022 after resigning from Congress, when the Group of 20 within the party resented Congress’ style of functioning and demanded inner party democracy.Azad returned to his home ground Jammu & Kashmir with the impression that he would make waves in the Union Territory. However, he began to be considered BJP’s ally, which dented much of his credibility.Azad had won the Lok Sabha elections in 1980 and 1984 and was CM of the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir from 2005 to 2008.Otherwise, he has been nominated to Rajya Sabha, along with a berth in the ministry, by Congress. But Azad criticised the Gandhi family in his recently published autobiography “Azad”, which soured his relationship with the Gandhis.People close to Azad say, his drawback is his inaccessibility. While Azad lost to BJP leader and Union minister Jitendra Singh from Udhampur in the Lok Sabha elections in 2014, the DPAP candidate was a distant third in 2024. His other candidates too could not win any of the seats in J&K. Azad began losing his loyalists one by one, who wanted to return to Congress. Azad’s biggest shock came when GM Saroori, who contested against Jitendra Singh in the Lok Sabha polls this year, filed nomination as an Independent from Inderwal constituency, after his name did not figure in DPAP’s first list for the assembly elections. Saroori had resigned from the Congress along with Azad in Aug 2022.

J&K assembly elections: Ghulam Nabi Azad's DPAP releases first list of 13 candidates

The Democratic Progressive Azad Party (DPAP), formed by former Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad, unveiled its initial list of 13 candidates for the Jammu and Kashmir assembly elections. Prominent names include former J&K minister Abdul Majeed Wani and ex-MLA Mohammad Amin Bhat. Elections have three phases, ending with results on October 4.

Azads absence likely to impact his fledgling party in J&K

Ghulam Nabi Azads Democratic Progressive Azad Party (DPAP) has halted its activities after Azad withdrew from campaigning due to health issues. This move jeopardizes DPAPs performance in Jammu & Kashmir as candidates and former loyalists reconsider their political affiliations, posing a serious challenge for the party's future.

Azad Samaj Party names ex-journo as bypoll candidate

Chandrashekhar Azad Ravan's Azad Samaj Party (Kanshi Ram) has announced Satpal Choudhary as its candidate for the Ghaziabad assembly by-poll. Choudhary, an education rights activist and former journalist, is set to contest against established vote banks, potentially splitting votes of BSP and INDIA alliance, favoring BJP, who retains a stronghold on the seat.