Ghulam Nabi Azad not to contest Lok Sabha elections from Anantnag-Rajouri, Direct Contest Between BJP's Jitendra Singh and Congress's Lal Singh for Udhampur Seat on April 19

 

 

The Democratic Progressive Azad Party on Wednesday announced that former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister and DPAP chairman Ghulam Nabi Azad will not contest the Lok Sabha elections from the Anantnag-Rajouri seat.

 

 

Advocate Saleem Parray will be a candidate from the Azad's Democratic Progressive Azad Party for the Anantnag Rajouri seat.

 

 

DPAP leader, Advocate Mohammad Saleem Paray, confirmed the development and said the people of Jammu and Kashmir want to see Azad as the Chief Minister.

 

 

"Ghulam Nabi Azad had a meeting with the leaders of south Kashmir. Deliberations were held on a lot of things. Finally, my name was proposed and I am thankful to Ghulam Nabi Azad that he trusted me. I will try my level best to meet all the expectations. Replacement is not a proper word. He is being a good leader. There is no replacement. I wanted Ghulam Nabi Azad to contest from here but as a political worker, I am connected to people. People of the state want Ghulam Nabi Azad to take charge of Jammu and Kashmir, they want to see him as the Chief Minister," he added.

 

PDP president Mehbooba Mufti will fight from Anantnag-Rajouri and the National Conference has fielded Mian Altaf for the Lok Sabha polls. Earlier in 2022, Azad had left the Congress, ending his five-decade-long association with the party, and floated the DPAP.

 

For the Udhampur seat, voting will take place on April 19th, featuring a direct contest between BJP’s sitting MP and MoS Jitendra Singh and India Bloc candidate Lal Singh. NC and PDP are supporting Lal Singh, who is the Congress candidate.

 

In the 2014 elections, Jitendra Singh from the BJP gathered 46.8 per cent of votes on the Udhampur seat, while Ghulam Nabi Azad, who fought on the Congress ticket, gathered 40.9 per cent.

 

Voting in Udhampur will be held on April 19, in Jammu on April 26, in Anantnag-Rajouri on May 7, in Srinagar on May 13, and in Baramulla on May 20.

 

Earlier, there were six seats for J-K, including Ladakh. But, following the abrogation of Article 370 by the Parliament, Ladakh does not have a Lok Sabha constituency. In the 2019 elections, the BJP won three seats, while the National Conference won the other three seats.

(With ANI inputs)