• Source:JND
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Democratic Progressive Azad Party (DPAP) chief Ghulam Nabi Azad, who was to contest the Lok Sabha election from the Anantnag-Rajouri constituency, will now not be fighting the polls. The announcement came from his party on Wednesday. The election in Jammu & Kashmir will take place in the first five phases on April 19 (Udhampur), April 26 (Jammu), May 7 (Anantnag-Rajouri), May 13 (Srinagar) and May 20 (Baramulla).

Notably, Ghulam Nabi Azad will be fighting the Lok Sabha polls for the first time after his loss in the 2014 General Elections from Udhampur seat. 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.

Who Will Contest On Behalf On Ghulam Nabi Azad

Advocate Mohammad Saleem Paray has been named as party's candidate from Anantnag–Rajouri constituency. The decision was taken following a party meeting with leaders of south Kashmir.

"Ghulam Nabi Azad had a meeting with 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," said Paray.

"Replacement is not a proper word...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 & Kashmir, they want to see him as the Chief Minister," he added.

 

When asked that some leaders are saying that Ghulam Nabi Azad is fearful of contesting, he asked the names of those leaders who claimed that former CM is fearful.

"Take the names; I will then answer to them. Omar Sahab shifted from Srinagar to Baramulla. Why? The people here want to see Ghulam Nabi Azad as the Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir. People should appreciate that Ghulam Nabi Sahab has moved a young party leader to contest the elections," he said.

Meanwhile, DPAP's provincial president of Kashmir, Mohammad Amin Bhat said that advocate Saleem Parray will be the DPAP candidate for the Anantnag-Rajouri seat.

"A meeting took place with Azad and it was decided that advocate Saleem Parray will be the DPAP candidate for the Anantnag-Rajouri seat. I won't be able to tell you the reason behind the decision--this is the party's decision," Bhat said.

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