ANANTNAG, Mar 9: Ghulam Nabi Azad, Chief of the Democratic Progressive Azad Party (DPAP), disclosed on Saturday the likelihood of the Assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir occurring within one to two months following the conclusion of the Lok Sabha polls.
Expressing the collective anticipation that has mounted over the past six years for the Assembly elections, Azad conveyed his expectations to reporters after a public meeting held in south Kashmir. He emphasized the urgency felt by the people of Jammu and Kashmir, asserting that further delays are untenable.
Regarding the apparent rifts within the People’s Alliance for Gupkar Declaration (PAGD) and its potential implications for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Azad noted the electorate’s discernment in determining which party or candidate to support. He refrained from speculating on the beneficiaries of the alliance’s disarray, underscoring the electorate’s astuteness in making informed choices.
The fissures within the PAGD, originally formed in 2020 to advocate for the restoration of Article 370, have come to the fore following public spats between its primary constituents, the National Conference (NC) and the People’s Democratic Party (PDP). Notably, the discord arose when Omar Abdullah declined to allocate any seats to the PDP in Kashmir, prompting Mehbooba Mufti to accuse the NC of fracturing the alliance.
In response to the political landscape shaped by accusations and counter-accusations, Azad emphasized the democratic prerogative of every party to contest elections. He indirectly critiqued regional parties insinuating his alignment with the BJP, asserting his historical independence from ministerial or legislative roles during BJP rule.
Addressing perceptions of his political affiliations, Azad highlighted the autonomy of political parties in determining their electoral strategies, without succumbing to external pressures. His remarks underscored the complexities and nuances inherent in Jammu and Kashmir’s political milieu, marked by shifting alliances and diverging agendas.