Four DPAP candidates withdraw nomination

Srinagar, August 31

Four candidates affiliated with former chief minister Ghulam Nabi Azad’s Democratic Progressive Azad Party (DPAP) have withdrawn their nominations from Assembly elections after Azad said he won’t be able to campaign during the first phase due to some health issues.

The candidates who have withdrawn their candidature are Mohammed Aslam Goni from Bhaderwah constituency, Fatima Begum from Inderwal constituency, Asif Ahmad Khanday from Banihal constituency and Girdhari Lal Bahu from Ramban constituency.

Bahu said he took the decision to withdraw from the polls because Azad won’t be able to come for campaigning. “It is natural that his absence during poll campaign would have impacted my winning chances,” he said. “So, I had no option but to withdraw my nomination.”

Ghulam Nabi Azad, who is the chairman of the Democratic Progressive Azad Party (DPAP), said earlier this week that he would not be able to campaign in the first phase of elections, because of his health issues.

DPAP general secretary (organisation) RS Chib recently said Azad had told his party’s candidates that they were free to withdraw candidature if they felt his absence during campaigning could impact their winning chances.

In the recent Lok Sabha elections, three of the party candidates had performed poorly and lost their security deposits. Recently, several leaders have left the DPAP, dealing a big blow to the Azad’s party.