The city of Ganderbal, located 40 km from Srinagar, was quiet when we arrived at the main junction at 10 a.m. Gradually, people began to gather, chanting slogans and filling the area. From atop a vehicle, Ghulam Nabi Azad-led Democratic Progressive Azad Party (DPAP) candidate Qaiser Sultan Jin, with a bodybuilder's physique, delivered his speeches.

Afterwards, we asked him when Azad would arrive, and he assured them it would be soon. Qaiser Sultan Jin expressed his delight at having a journalist from Kerala covering the elections in Kashmir. Shortly after, Azad arrived in a heavily guarded vehicle, and the crowd erupted with excitement. When the glass of the front seat was lowered halfway, I took the opportunity to renew my acquaintance with him. He promised to meet me in person at the next junction.

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Ghulam Nabi Azad holding a child during a campaign rally in J&K | Mathrubhumi
Ghulam Nabi Azad holding a child during campaign rally in J&K | Mathrubhumi

Despite health concerns, Azad stood up inside the vehicle at the request of his supporters, and the roadshow slowly progressed for 5 km. Crowds lined the roadside, eager to catch a glimpse of him as he waved back. Women showered flowers on the leader, and when a young man handed him his baby, Azad cradled the child like a proud grandfather.

When the car stopped at the next junction, he took the microphone and began his speech, recalling his past connections with Ganderbal. He detailed the services he had provided to the constituency during his tenure as Chief Minister and shared personal anecdotes from his college days in Ganderbal, speaking in both Hindi and Kashmiri.

After the speech, he spoke to Mathrubhumi reporter. 

What are the chances of your party in the election?

I firmly believe in democracy and secularism. My party, the Democratic Progressive Azad Party, reflects my complete faith in democratic values. Ironically, those who preach against autocracy often end up doing it when they gain power. If we oppose autocracy only to implement it ourselves, true democracy cannot exist.
I hold a progressive vision, rejecting the notions of caste and casteism. Society must evolve, and my primary focus is on progress that transcends religious boundaries. We are committed to making this a reality, and I believe the people will recognize this message in the upcoming election.

Who is your opponent? BJP or INDIA bloc?

None of them are my enemies. Political parties are our competitors. In the classroom of politics, we can all be friends, studying under one roof. We can be competitive without fostering enmity. I don’t view any political party or leader as an enemy; I see them all as competitors. Greetings to everyone.

Is the main topic of discussion during the election is the withdrawal of Article 370? What is your position on it?

From the very beginning, I have spoken against the withdrawal of Article 370, even when everyone else was against it. I made this clear during the first meeting of my party in Baramulla. I fought valiantly in Parliament for both Article 370 and the statehood of Jammu and Kashmir, delivering speeches on these issues. I stood for statehood and Article 35A. No one knew that 35A was a pre-independence provision until I delivered my speech. 35A was the contribution of Maharaja Harisingh. Later, when the Constitution was drafted, this provision was included in it.

Democratic Progressive Azad Party

The crowd in Ganderbal shows that Ghulam Nabi Azad's popularity has not waned in Kashmir since he left the Congress. Young people have affection and admiration for Azad, who was the face of Congress and Kashmir for a long time.

Azad formed the Democratic Progressive Azad Party in 2022. At the initial excitement, however, many members dropped out and the party weakened. Although there was a rumour that Azad would return to the Congress in the Lok Sabha elections, he immediately denied it. Meanwhile, Azad's health issues have raised concerns for the party. At first, he considered stepping back from election campaigning, but ultimately chose to engage actively in the campaign process.

DPAP is contesting 13 seats in the assembly elections. In Doda and several other constituencies, the party has fielded strong candidates, though securing victories will be challenging. Even if they don’t win, Azad’s candidates pose a significant threat to the Congress-led INDIA bloc and PDP, as they may split votes among these parties. The BJP believes this situation could ultimately work to their advantage.