SRINAGAR: From Ghulam Nabi Azad’s home turf of Chenab Valley, four of his party’s Democratic Progressive Azad Party (DPAP) candidates have withdrawn their nomination papers for the upcoming assembly elections, while two remaining candidates vow to contest with full commitment.
Saddam Nab Azad, with his right hand, raised, son of Ghulam Nabi Azad has joined the Democratic Progressive Azad Party (DPAP). He was seen at the party’s youth convention at Nigheen Club on February 26, 2023.
Muhammad Aslam Goni, the DPAP candidate from Bhaderwah—where Azad was elected to the Legislative Assembly after becoming Chief Minister in 2006—was the first to withdraw his nomination, leaving the field open for Congress and National Conference (NC) candidates to face the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
After Goni, DPAP candidate from Inderwal, Fatima Begum—where an independent candidate and former close aide of Azad, Ghulam Muhammad Saroori, is contesting—also withdrew her nomination papers.
Fatima Begum was previously a Block Development Council (BDC) Chairperson. From both seats in Ramban district—Ramban and Banihal—DPAP candidates Girdhari Lal Bhau and Asif Khanday also withdrew their nomination papers.
Speaking to the media, Goni said that he did not want to contribute to a division of votes that might assist the BJP candidate in winning. “Our aim was to defeat the BJP, not to divide votes. I thought it was better to withdraw and provide space for others to defeat the BJP,” he said.
Similarly, Asif Khanday in Banihal cited the health status of DPAP star campaigner Ghulam Nabi Azad as his reason for withdrawing from the contest, stating that he would stand by Azad at every point.
Following these withdrawals, only two DPAP candidates—Abdul Majid Wani from Doda and Abdul Gani Bhat from Doda West—remain in the contest from Chenab Valley.
Other DPAP candidates from South Kashmir are still in the race and have decided to test the waters.
Meanwhile, other DPAP leaders who remain in the contest believe it is time for the people to reciprocate the love they have received from Azad in the past. “This is a challenging situation given Azad’s health, but people will vote for us because Azad lives in every heart in the Doda constituency,” said Wani.
The two-time MLA, Wani, is contesting from his home seat in Doda, where NC and Congress have fielded their candidates for a friendly contest, and the BJP is also in the fray.
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