In his heydays in politics, Ghulam Nabi Azad was labeled the ‘lucky mascot’ and ‘master strategist’. He won many difficult elections in his long political career. But ever since Azad severed his ties with the Congress party he has been struggling to find a foothold and consolidate his support base in his home state.
Azad launched his political party Democratic Progressive Azad Party (DPAP) in September 2022 and campaigned extensively across different corners of Jammu and Kashmir to prepare ground in support of the party.
The party’s performance was not up to the mark in the recently held Lok Sabha polls in Jammu and Kashmir.
Azad was left stranded midway after several senior party leaders jumped the ship in search of greener pastures. The exit of leaders like Taj Mohiuddin, Haji Abdul Rashid Dar, Sham Lal Bhatt, Abdul Majeed Wani and Gulzar Wani among others had weakened the DPAP. Upset with these developments Azad was maintaining a low profile to avoid media glare.
Ironically, even before launching the poll campaign for the upcoming Assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir, Ghulam Nabi Azad on Wednesday communicated to his party workers and senior leaders that he has decided not to campaign for his Democratic Progressive Azad Party (DPAP) owing to health reasons. He also advised party candidates that they could withdraw from the race due to his absence in electioneering.
In a statement issued to media houses in Srinagar, Azad said that on the night of August 25, he suffered acute chest pain in Srinagar.
“Following morning, I took the earliest available flight to Delhi and was admitted to AIIMS hospital, where I stayed for two days,” the statement added. While doctors assured him that there was no immediate danger, Azad said that he was dealing with other health concerns that require both medication and rest. “These unforeseen circumstances have forced me to step back from the campaign trail,” he added.
Meanwhile, J&k BJP Chief Ravinder Raina is also facing tough times as party workers have come out in the open at several places in protest questioning the selection of candidates for the Assembly segments by the party’s high command.
