DPAP denies Ghulam Nabi Azad’s return to Congress

Amid swirling speculations about Ghulam Nabi Azad’s potential return to Congress, the Democratic Progressive Azad Party (DPAP) clarified on Sunday that its Chairman and senior leader, Ghulam Nabi Azad, has no intention of rejoining the Congress Party.

In an official statement issued here, DPAP chief spokesperson Salman Nizami addressed the ongoing rumours, asserting that they are entirely baseless. “For the past two weeks, rumours have been spread by Congress leaders in Jammu and Kashmir suggesting that Ghulam Nabi Azad and his party are set to rejoin Congress,” Nizami said.

He further clarified that there has been no communication between Azad and the Congress leadership since Azad left the party. “Neither has Azad approached any Congress leader, nor has any Congress leader approached him, whether directly or telephonically,” Nizami stated, labelling the rumours as false and intended to create confusion within the DPAP ranks.

Nizami urged party leaders and workers to disregard these rumours and called on media outlets not to lend them any credibility.

Ghulam Nabi Azad, a veteran politician, ended his over-five-decade-long association with Congress on August 26, 2022. A month later, on September 26, 2022, he launched the DPAP, with core agendas focusing on the restoration of full statehood, land rights, and employment opportunities for native domiciles in Jammu and Kashmir.