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 Jammu & Kashmir.
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.
On Aug 25, Azad had issued a statement and stepped back from campaigning citing health issues. He said he developed chest pain and left for Delhi on Aug 26 and was admitted to AIIMS.
Azad’s absence will impact seats like Doda and Bhaderwah, which get a significant number of votes from Azad’s native areas of Gundoh and Bhallessa.
While DPAP candidate Abdul Majeed Wani would have gained advantage in Doda from Azad’s presence, on Bhaderwah seat, party candidate Muhammad Aslam Goni would be facing a tough time ahead in an already tight contest where Congress, BJP and National Conference have fielded their candidates.
In other seats of Chenab Valley in the Jammu region where DPAP has fielded candidates, the party will have to garner votes without any known face.
Azad, however, has made it clear that candidates should decide whether they can continue without his presence. “Candidates should assess whether they can continue without my presence. If they feel my absence would impact their chances, they have the freedom to withdraw their candidacy,” a DPAP statement said, quoting Azad.
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 Jammu & Kashmir.
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.
On Aug 25, Azad had issued a statement and stepped back from campaigning citing health issues. He said he developed chest pain and left for Delhi on Aug 26 and was admitted to AIIMS.
Azad’s absence will impact seats like Doda and Bhaderwah, which get a significant number of votes from Azad’s native areas of Gundoh and Bhallessa.
While DPAP candidate Abdul Majeed Wani would have gained advantage in Doda from Azad’s presence, on Bhaderwah seat, party candidate Muhammad Aslam Goni would be facing a tough time ahead in an already tight contest where Congress, BJP and National Conference have fielded their candidates.
In other seats of Chenab Valley in the Jammu region where DPAP has fielded candidates, the party will have to garner votes without any known face.
Azad, however, has made it clear that candidates should decide whether they can continue without his presence. “Candidates should assess whether they can continue without my presence. If they feel my absence would impact their chances, they have the freedom to withdraw their candidacy,” a DPAP statement said, quoting Azad.