Jammu: The Democratic Progressive Azad Party (DPAP) will not participate in the upcoming bypolls for the Budgam and Nagrota Assembly constituencies, party chairman and former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad announced on Saturday.
Azad said the decision followed extensive consultations and a detailed ground-level assessment, which revealed that the party’s organisational presence in these constituencies was currently limited.
“We do not believe in symbolic contests or in dividing votes. Where our support base is not strong enough, we prefer to consolidate our resources elsewhere and focus on our larger mission — restoring democratic dignity and driving development in Jammu and Kashmir,” Azad stated.
The bypolls in Budgam and Nagrota are scheduled for November 11, with counting on November 14.
The Budgam seat became vacant after Chief Minister Omar Abdullah opted to retain the Ganderbal constituency following the 2024 Assembly elections, while the Nagrota seat fell vacant on October 31, 2024, after the demise of BJP MLA Devender Singh Rana.
Reiterating his long-standing demand, Azad once again called for the immediate restoration of full statehood to Jammu and Kashmir.
“Effective governance demands coordination between the lieutenant governor and the chief minister so that citizens’ concerns are resolved swiftly and welfare schemes reach every household,” he said.
Referring to the devastation caused by recent floods, Azad urged the Centre to announce a comprehensive relief and rehabilitation package, stressing that rebuilding lives and infrastructure must be prioritised above political or bureaucratic interests.
