DPAP Faces Collapse Two Years After Launch, Shaking J&K Politics
Avinash Azad
In a surprising development that has rattled the political arena of Jammu and Kashmir, Ghulam Nabi Azad’s Democratic Progressive Azad Party (DPAP) is teetering on the edge of collapse merely two years after its highly anticipated formation.
The veteran politician, once a stalwart of the Indian National Congress, now finds himself isolated and his fledgling party in disarray as the region gears up for crucial assembly elections.
From Congress Exodus to Political Exodus
Azad’s dramatic exit from the Congress in 2022, accompanied by a cadre of loyal supporters, was hailed as a potential game-changer in J&K politics. However, the tables have turned dramatically. In a humiliating reversal, almost all the Congress leaders who had jumped ship to join Azad’s new venture have now returned to their former party, leaving the DPAP severely weakened.
Health Concerns or Political Retreat?
In a move that has raised eyebrows across political circles, Azad announced on Wednesday that he would not be campaigning for his party’s candidates in the upcoming assembly elections, citing health concerns. According to a statement released by the DPAP chairman, he suffered acute chest pain in Srinagar on August 25th and was subsequently admitted to AIIMS in Delhi for two days.
While Azad claims that doctors have assured him there is no immediate danger, he states that other health issues require medication and rest, forcing him to “step back from the campaign trail.” This sudden withdrawal has led to speculation about whether health concerns are the real reason or if it’s a strategic retreat in the face of imminent political defeat.
A Party in Crisis
The impact of Azad’s absence on the DPAP’s electoral prospects cannot be overstated. Political analysts predict that it will be “very difficult for Azad’s party to secure a single seat in the assembly polls.” This grim outlook is compounded by Azad’s decision to skip the recent Lok Sabha polls, despite his party leaders urging him to contest the Rajouri-Anantnag seat.
In a move that signals the depth of the crisis, Azad has taken the unusual step of publicly urging his party candidates to reassess their positions. “If they feel my absence would impact their chances, they have the freedom to withdraw their candidacy,” Azad stated, in what many see as a tacit admission of the party’s dire straits.
The Fall of a Political Titan
Ghulam Nabi Azad’s current predicament marks a stark contrast to his once-towering stature in J&K and national politics. A former Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir and a prominent national leader, Azad has been a key figure in the region’s political landscape for decades. His extensive experience and political acumen had led many to believe that the DPAP could emerge as a significant force in J&K politics.
Released Candidates’ List
Earlier on August 25, 2024, the Democratic Progressive Azad Party (DPAP) released its inaugural list of 13 candidates for the upcoming Assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir.
Looking Ahead
As the election season heats up in Jammu and Kashmir, the rapid decline of Azad’s political fortunes serves as a cautionary tale about the unpredictable nature of Indian politics. With the DPAP facing an existential crisis and its founder sidelined, the political vacuum left by Azad’s retreat is likely to be fiercely contested by both national and regional parties.
The coming weeks will be crucial in determining whether the DPAP can survive this setback or if it will go down in history as a short-lived experiment in J&K’s complex political tapestry. Whatever the outcome, the rise and fall of Ghulam Nabi Azad’s political gambit will undoubtedly be remembered as one of the most dramatic episodes in recent Indian political history.
