Clouds hang over DPAP’s plans as Azad unavailable for campaigning; Due to poor health, ex-CM not to fight election either
Former Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad, who is the chairman of Democratic Progressive Azad Party (DPAP), is unlikely to contest the Assembly poll and wouldn’t be able to campaign in the first phase of elections, one of his party’s senior leaders said on Wednesday.
“Because of Azad’s health issues, he won’t be able to campaign for at least the first phase of polls,” DPAP general secretary (organisation) RS Chib told The Tribune on Wednesday. He said it was an “unfortunate situation” and since he was the only tall leader and “main person” in the party, his unavailability was a “big setback.”
“Everyone looks forward to him. He has said he won’t be able to participate in campaigning,” Chib said. He added that Azad had told his nominated candidates they were free to withdraw candidature if they felt his absence during campaigning could impact their winning chances. “No candidate should feel uncomfortable because of the situation,” he said. Chib said the party had so far announced 15 candidates. He said consultations would now take place, to see if the party would announce candidates for the second and third phases.
Asked why GM Saroori, party’s vice-chairman, filed his nomination as an Independent candidate on Tuesday, Chib said he was not sure about Saroori’s decision. “These days, we see people moving from one party to another…but Saroori sahab is the vice-chairman of our party, so I don’t know why he declined the party’s mandate. He was the number one choice for the mandate,” he said, adding that he hadn’t sent any resignation yet to the party.
According to Chib, the “party stands as of now,” but for the “poll campaign it is definitely a setback.” DPAP was formed with much fanfare after the abrogation of Article 370, but has failed to make a mark in the UT. Several of its founding members and senior leaders have left the party. In the recent Lok Sabha elections, three of its candidates — Saleem Parray from Anantnag-Rajouri, GM Saroori from Udhampur and Amir Bhat from Srinagar — lost their deposits.
After a dismal performance in the Lok Sabha polls, Ghulam Nabi Azad’s party was then hit by desertions
Rattled by the dismal performance in the Lok Sabha polls, the Democratic Progressive Azad Party (DPAP) led by former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister (CM) Ghulam Nabi Azad is planning to stitch an alliance with leaders who are not aligned with others or have recently quit their parties.
Azad, 75, had formed the DPAP in September 2022 after ending his five-decade-long association with the Congress. However, DPAP which he wanted to paint as an “alternative” to regional forces like the National Conference and the Peoples Democratic Party failed in its first political test, with all its three Lok Sabha candidates losing their deposits.
The party was then hit by desertion, with over a half dozen party leaders, including treasurer and former minister, Taj Mohi-ud-Din, quitting.
After the announcements of assembly polls in J&K, Azad, however, is trying to consolidate the party’s base with alliances. “Talks are on with secular minded leaders who have not joined any political party,” DPAP chief spokesperson Salman Nazimi said, ruling out an alliance with the Peoples Conference or the Apni Party. “We are also in touch with several parties and alliances and candidates will be nominated soon,” he added.
Another senior leader and former chairperson municipal council Baramulla, Omar Kakroo. said talks are in final stages, “We will declare an alliance and it will be a strong alliance and will win seats in both regions.”
Leaders close to Azad said they are trying to woo Awami Ittehad Party (AIP) led by MP Baramulla Sheikh Abdul Rashid alias Engineer Rashid. In Lok Sabha polls, Azads party had supported Rashid, who defeated Omar Abdullah by over two lakh votes and managed to take the lead in 14 of 18 assembly segments in Baramulla.
The party, however, dismissed rumours of it being in talks with the Congress.
Despite the dismal performance of Azads party in Lok Sabha polls, it still has more than half a dozen leaders, especially former legislators, who hold sway in their segments. The two main regional parties, the NC and the PDP, however, are targeting Azad’s party, dubbing it the “C team” of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
