Setback for Azad's party as two former ministers return to Congress

In a setback for Ghulam Nabi Azad's Democratic Progressive Azad Party, two former Jammu and Kashmir ministers – Jugal Kishore Sharma and Abdul Majid Wani – along with hundreds of their supporters on Thursday returned to the Congress.

Former Members of Legislative Council (MLCs) Subash Gupta and Brij Mohan Sharma also rejoined Congress at a function organised to mark the 108th birth anniversary of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.

The leaders, who had quit the Congress in 2022 to join Azad's newly formed outfit, were welcomed into the party fold by national general secretary and Jammu and Kashmir in-charge Syed Naseer Hussain, J&K Pradesh Congress Committee president Tariq Hameed Karra and AICC general secretary GA Mir.

Both Sharma and Wani had unsuccessfully contested the last assembly elections from the Vaishno Devi and Doda segments, respectively. Azad did not aggressively campaign for the party candidates, citing ill health.

Sharma was a minister in the Mufti Mohammad Sayeed-led PDP-Congress government from 2000 to 2005 and in the Azad-led Congress-PDP government from 2005 to 2008. Wani was also inducted as a minister in the Azad-led government.

With their return to the Congress, most of the leaders who have left the party to support Azad have made a comeback over the past two years. The process has sped up after the dismal performance of the Democratic Progressive Azad Party in both the Lok Sabha and Assembly elections last year.

“Congress is the only party which believes in secularism and gives its leaders freedom to speak their mind. Congress does not do religion-based politics,” Sharma said, addressing the well-attended gathering.

He said many people came up with a lot of suggestions after the news started making rounds that they are rejoining Congress.

“The other party is seeking votes in the name of religion, which we do not favour. Religion is a personal thing, and one should have freedom to follow their own religion, which is there in Congress, as there are no restrictions on anyone,” Sharma said.

Sharma and other leaders had made attempts to rejoin Congress ahead of the Assembly polls last year. They had also approached the party for tickets but were not entertained at that time.

Azad had floated the party with pomp and show in a hope to create a powerful front. However, DPAP was not able to win even a single seat in the Assembly polls last year as it was termed by many as the B-team of BJP.

In April this year, Azad dissolved all units of the party including state, provisional, district, and block committees. He had also dissolved the panel of spokespersons.