Ali Asad
Srinagar, Apr 2: In a significant development ahead of the Lok Sabha elections in Jammu and Kashmir, Democratic Progressive Azad Party (DPAP) President Ghulam Nabi Azad has thrown his hat into the ring for the Anantnag-Rajouri Lok Sabha seat. The announcement was made by DPAP Treasurer Taj Mohiuddin during a press briefing held in Srinagar on Tuesday.
Azad, who parted ways with the Congress in 2022 to form his own political outfit in Jammu and Kashmir, is set to spearhead his party’s campaign in the region. Apart from Azad, DPAP has also nominated GM Saruri as its candidate for the Udhampur-Doda seat, marking the party’s foray into the electoral arena with two contenders.
Hailing from Doda, Jammu, Azad embarked on his political journey as the Secretary of the Block Congress Committee in 1973. With his nomination, he brings a wealth of experience, having previously served as a Member of Parliament and held various prominent positions in the government.
The National Conference (NC) has also revealed its candidate for the Anantnag-Rajouri seat, nominating Mian Altaf, a seasoned Gujjar-Pahari leader and five-time MLA, for the upcoming elections. This announcement comes on the heels of the NC’s decision to replace sitting MP Hasnain Masoodi with Altaf.
Meanwhile, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) are yet to unveil their candidates for the coveted seat. Speculations abound regarding the BJP’s potential choice of a Muslim candidate, while the PDP, a member of the India alliance alongside the NC, remains tight-lipped about its electoral strategy.
The Anantnag-Rajouri parliamentary seat, formed post-delimitation, encompasses Rajori and Poonch and is slated for voting in the third phase on May 7. As the election fervor picks up, political parties are gearing up for an intense battle, with nominations set to commence on April 12 and conclude on April 19.
While the NC has declared its intention to contest three Lok Sabha seats in the Kashmir Valley, including Anantnag-Rajouri, the PDP is expected to field candidates for two of the three seats. However, formal announcements from both parties are pending, along with the BJP’s candidate revelation.
The Anantnag seat has historically been a key battleground, witnessing significant electoral contests. Former MP Mehbooba Mufti’s victory in 2014 and subsequent resignation in 2016 triggered prolonged vacancy, with elections delayed for security reasons. In 2019, Hasnain Masoodi clinched victory amidst subdued voter turnout, marking a turning point in the political landscape of the region.
