Clouds hang over DPAP’s plans as Azad unavailable for campaigning

Srinagar, August 28

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Former Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad, who is the chairman of Democratic Progressive Azad Party (DPAP), is unlikely to contest the Assembly poll and wouldn’t be able to campaign in the first phase of elections, one of his party’s senior leaders said on Wednesday.

“Because of Azad’s health issues, he won’t be able to campaign for at least the first phase of polls,” DPAP general secretary (organisation) RS Chib told The Tribune on Wednesday. He said it was an “unfortunate situation” and since he was the only tall leader and “main person” in the party, his unavailability was a “big setback.”

“Everyone looks forward to him. He has said he won’t be able to participate in campaigning,” Chib said. He added that Azad had told his nominated candidates they were free to withdraw candidature if they felt his absence during campaigning could impact their winning chances.

“No candidate should feel uncomfortable because of the situation,” he said. Chib said the party had so far announced 15 candidates. He said consultations would now take place, to see if the party would announce candidates for the second and third phases.

Asked why GM Saroori, party’s vice-chairman, filed his nomination as an Independent candidate on Tuesday, Chib said he was not sure about Saroori’s decision.

“These days, we see people moving from one party to another…but Saroori sahab is the vice-chairman of our party, so I don’t know why he declined the party’s mandate. He was the number one choice for the mandate,” he said, adding that he hadn’t sent any resignation yet to the party.

According to Chib, the “party stands as of now,” but for the “poll campaign it is definitely a setback.” DPAP was formed with much fanfare after the abrogation of Article 370, but has failed to make a mark in the UT. Several of its founding members and senior leaders have left the party.

In the recent Lok Sabha elections, three of its candidates — Saleem Parray from Anantnag-Rajouri, GM Saroori from Udhampur and Amir Bhat from Srinagar — lost their deposits.