This election ghulam nabi azad is in no man's land
The ongoing political churning in Jammu and Kashmir has made Ghulam Nabi Azad one of the biggest losers, with the former Congress leader a secret zone of the Bharatiya Janata Party's plan to split the Muslim vote in the ongoing assembly elections in the union.
Since its formation in 2022, Azad's new outfit, the Democratic Progressive Azad Party, has struggled to find a foothold in Jammu and Kashmir's rapidly changing political climate, although the former Congress leader's tenure as chief minister from 2005 to 2008 is fondly remembered by some. For its good governance.
Along with Azad in Jammu and Kashmir, the strength of the Congress party has halved due to his exit at a weak time,” said Prof. Baba, adding, “Had he remained in charge of Jammu and Kashmir, the Congress would have definitely performed better in the ongoing elections”.
Baba said that Azad was portrayed as close to the BJP which played a key role in undermining his party's electoral prospects due to widespread anger against the saffron party in Kashmir and some pockets of the Jammu region.
“Whether it is true or not, there is a widespread perception that Azad enjoys the goodwill of the BJP. In that respect his fate is similar to that of Altaf Bukhari and his party,” he said.
Like Azad's DPAP, Bukhari's Aap party, which was born after the central government's decision to read Article 370 and is also a BJP ally, has failed to take off, despite initial enthusiasm.
Prof Baba said that Azad was a rare Muslim face in Jammu and Kashmir who had acceptance even among the Hindu community, adding, "His exit has impoverished the Congress and in the process also cast a long shadow over his political career."
