Lok Sabha Elections 2024: Ghulam Nabi Azad To Withdraw Candidature From Anantnag-Rajouri Seat

With only a couple of days left for the first phase of polling for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections 2024, India's paradise Jammu and Kashmir is witnessing big political twists. On Wednesday, Democratic Progressive Azad Party (DPAP) founder and president and former Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir, Ghulam Nabi Azad announced to withdraw his candidature from the valley's high-profile Anantnag-Rajouri seats.

The news was confirmed by the DPAP's Kashmir provincial president, Mohammad Amin Bhat. According to the reports, the newly floated party, whose key agenda is to demand the restoration of Jammu and Kashmir's statehood status, may field Mohammad Saleem Paray as its candidate now. Notably, Paray would be contesting against Jammu and Kashmir's former CM and People's Democratic Party (PDP) chief Mehbooba Mufti and Farooq Abdullah's National Conference popular leader Mian Altaf.

However, the senior party leader reiterated that Gulab Nabi Azad and his party will continue to raise a flag for the social development of the state and its people, and the protection of land and job rights.

"Ghulam Nabi Azad had a meeting with 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. 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 & Kashmir, they want to see him as the Chief Minister," DPAP leader Adv. Mohammad Saleem Paray told ANI.

Gulam Nabi Azad ended his five-decade-long relationship with Congress and parted ways in 2022 to float his own party.

The Jammu and Kashmir will go to poll in the first phase of Lok Sabha Elections on April 19 and counting of votes will be held on June 4.