GT News Service
Jammu, April 8
Six days after his party nominated him for the prestigious Anantnag-Rajouri Lok Sabha seat, the veteran politician and chairman of the Democratic Progressive Azad Party (DPAP) chairman on Monday said that he is still undecided on joining the electoral battle.
Quoting Ghulam Nabi Azad, Republic TV reported that the veteran politician has not taken a final decision to contest the election.
“The party has announced but I will decide. No final decision as yet”, Azad said.
Meanwhile, spokesperson of DPAP, Salman Nizami said, “Ghulam Nabi Azad sahib meant that until the formal process of filing the nomination papers is completed, the candidate’s status remains uncertain. However, Our confirmed candidate for Anantnag-Rajouri seat is our chairman, Ghulam Nabi Azad sahib, filing nominations on either 18th or 19th April. Please disregard any rumors”.
Ghulam Nabi Azad sahib meant that until the formal process of filing the nomination papers is completed, the candidate’s status remains uncertain. However, Our confirmed candidate for Anantnag-Rajouri seat is our chairman, Ghulam Nabi Azad sahib, filing nominations on either 18th…
— Salman Nizami (@SalmanNizami_) April 8, 2024
On April 2, the DPAP announced that former Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad will contest the Lok Sabha election on the Anantnag-Rajouri seat.
He left the Congress party in 2022 after being with them for 50 years and started his own party called DPAP.
“The DPAP core committee of DPAP met and we have decided that (party president) Ghulam Nabi Azad will contest the Anantnag-Rajouri seat,” DPAP leader Taj Mohiuddin said.
In the 2014 Lok Sabha polls, Azad had lost from Udhampur constituency to BJP leader Dr. Jitendra Singh by more than 60,000 votes.
The Anantnag constituency, which spreads across the Pir Panjal range to include Rajouri and Poonch areas after delimitation, will go to polls on May 7 in the third phase of Lok Sabha elections.
The notification will be issued on April 12 while April 19 will be the last date for filing nominations. The last date for withdrawal of candidature will be April 22.
On Sunday, former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chief Mehbooba Mufti announced that she will be contesting the Lok Sabha elections from Anantnag-Rajouri.
National Conference has already announced name of veteran leader Mian Altaf Ahmad, the INDIA bloc candidate for this seat.
