Ghulam Nabi Azad withdraws from Anantnag-Rajouri seat in J&K

 

Democratic Progressive Azad Party (DPAP) announced on Wednesday that its founder and former Congress veteran Ghulam Nabi Azad will not be contesting in the Lok Sabha elections from the Anantnag-Rajouri seat in Jammu and Kashmir.

 

The party has decided to field advocate Mohammad Saleem Parray instead of Azad from the constituency, DPAP provincial president Mohammad Amin Bhat told reporters in Anantnag.

 

Parry will contest against PDP president Mehbooba Mufti and National Conference leader Mian Altaf.

Talking to reporters, Bhat said, "Azad will not contest the elections. A meeting took place with Azad and it was decided that advocate Saleem Parray will be the DPAP candidate for the Anantnag-Rajouri seat."

 

He did not disclose the reasons behind Azad's decision.

 

The Lok Sabha election would have been a litmus test of sorts for Azad and give an indication of his standing among the people of J&K since he resigned from Congress and launched his new party in 2022.