Veteran political chief Ghulam Nabi Azad, who stop Congress two years in the past, is able to be part of the electoral fray in Jammu and Kashmir. With a sequence of public conferences by his Democratic Progressive Azad Celebration, the previous Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir could contest from the difficult Anantnag-Rajouri Lok Sabha constituency.
The Anantnag-Rajouri seat is a status battle for Omar Abdullah’s Nationwide Convention and Mehbooba Mufti’s Peoples Democratic Celebration. The BJP can also be making severe inroads the constituency.
Mr Azad, although, was coy. “I am not ruling out contesting from Anantnag-Rajouri parliament constituency,” mentioned the 75-year-old who has additionally served as a Union Minister within the UPA authorities led by Manmohan Singh.
“A number of individuals are asking me to contest. Demand of my being within the parliament is extra… however there are voices who need me contest meeting elections,” he instructed NDTV in an unique interview.
With Mr Azad’s entry, Anantnag might see a 4 cornered contest. The seat was as soon as thought-about a stronghold of the PDP, although Nationwide Convention gained it within the final election.
Ms Mufti, is tipped to be contesting from Anantnag seat. In final parliament election she got here quantity three and pointing to her occasion’s poor efficiency, Omar Abdullah has refused to concede the seat to PDP although each events are a part of INDIA bloc.
BJP state unit chief Ravinder Raina can also be extensively campaigning within the space, holding rallies in what actually have been no-go areas for the BJP until just a few years in the past.
For Mr Azad — who for lengthy has been a member of the Rajya Sabha — this might be his first take a look at of recognition in his house state after his exit from the Congress. It could additionally make Anantnag an avidly watched contest.
Mr Azad’s Lok Sabha stint was within the Eighties from Maharashtra’s Washim constituency, 1991 onwards, he has been a member of Rajya Sabha. In 2014, he contested from Jammu and Kashmir’s Udhampur and misplaced.
Mr Azad has launched his personal occasion Democratic Progressive Azad Celebration or DPAP after his exit from the Congress and has been making scathing assaults on Rahul Gandhi and functioning of the Grand Outdated Celebration since.
A member of the committee on “One Nation One election” headed by former President Ram Nath Kovind, Mr Azad mentioned he strongly helps simultaneous polls for parliament and J&Okay meeting, that are lengthy overdue.
The Election Fee is visiting Jammu and Kashmir to assessment the preparedness for elections. There are reviews that the Fee is contemplating simultaneous elections within the Union Territory.
“I am in favor of simultaneous elections in Jammu and Kashmir. The individuals of Jammu and Kashmir, are extra involved about meeting elections than parliament elections,” he mentioned.
The final elected authorities in Jammu and Kashmir collapsed in June 2018 because the BJP withdrew from the alliance with Ms Mufti’s PDP. In 2019, the state was bifurcated into two Union Territories and its particular standing below the Structure was scrapped.
Jammu and Kashmir has since been below President’s Rule. The BJP calls it an enchancment on the governments led by native events. “In the present day poor individuals are getting their rights. PM Modi has given golden (well being card) to each resident of Jammu and Kashmir,” mentioned Ravinder Raina.
Mr Azad mentioned after his exit from the Congress, he held round 600 public conferences throughout J&Okay over the past 18 months. “I am very glad that I’ve fashioned my very own occasion. There’s overwhelming response from all sections of society,” he mentioned. However his actual problem can be to transform this enthusiasm into votes.