Ghulam Nabi Azad not to contest Lok Sabha elections from Anantnag-Rajouri

Anantnag (Jammu and Kashmir): The Democratic Progressive Azad Party on Wednesday announced that former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister and DPAP chairman Ghulam Nabi Azad will not contest the Lok Sabha elections from the Anantnag-Rajouri seat.

Advocate Saleem Parray will be a candidate from the Azad's Democratic Progressive Azad Party for the Anantnag Rajouri seat.

DPAP leader, Advocate Mohammad Saleem Paray, confirmed the development and said the people of Jammu and Kashmir want to see Azad as the Chief Minister.

"Ghulam Nabi Azad had a meeting with the leaders of south Kashmir. Deliberations were held on a lot of things. Finally, my name was proposed and I am thankful to Ghulam Nabi Azad that he trusted me. I will try my level best to meet all the expectations. Replacement is not a proper word. He is being a good leader. There is no replacement. I wanted Ghulam Nabi Azad to contest from here but as a political worker, I am connected to people. People of the state want Ghulam Nabi Azad to take charge of Jammu and Kashmir, they want to see him as the Chief Minister," he added.

He further said that he would try his best to meet the expectations of the people of Jammu and Kashmir.

"Keeping in mind all the things this decision has been taken. I will repeat the same: I will try my level best to meet the expectations," he added.

When asked that some leaders are saying that Ghulam Nabi Azad is fearful of contesting, he asked the names of those leaders who claimed that former CM is fearful.

"Take the names; I will then answer to them. Omar Sahab shifted from Srinagar to Baramulla. Why? The people here want to see Ghulam Nabi Azad as the Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir. People should appreciate that Ghulam Nabi Sahab has moved a young party leader to contest the elections," he said.

Meanwhile, DPAP's provincial president of Kashmir, Mohammad Amin Bhat said that advocate Saleem Parray will be the DPAP candidate for the Anantnag-Rajouri seat

"A meeting took place with Azad and it was decided that advocate Saleem Parray will be the DPAP candidate for the Anantnag-Rajouri seat. I won't be able to tell you the reason behind the decision--this is the party's decision," Bhat said.

PDP president Mehbooba Mufti will fight from Anantnag-Rajouri and the National Conference has fielded Mian Altaf for the Lok Sabha polls.

Earlier in 2022, Azad had left the Congress, ending his five-decade-long association with the party, and floated the DPAP.

In the 2014 elections, Jitendra Singh from the BJP gathered 46.8 per cent of votes on the Udhampur seat, while Ghulam Nabi Azad, who fought on the Congress ticket, gathered 40.9 per cent.

Voting in Udhampur will be held on April 19, in Jammu on April 26, in Anantnag-Rajouri on May 7, in Srinagar on May 13, and in Baramulla on May 20.

Earlier, there were six seats for J-K, including Ladakh. But, following the abrogation of Article 370 by the Parliament, Ladakh does not have a Lok Sabha constituency. In the 2019 elections, the BJP won three seats, while the National Conference won the other three seats.

This is the first election after the Supreme Court ruling last year, which upheld the Parliament's decision to abrogate Article 370 and bifurcate the state into two union territories. The apex court also asked the Election Commission of India to hold the next assembly elections in J&K before September 30, 2024.