With the premature collapse of his new political venture, Ghulam Nabi Azad faces an uncertain political future

The rapid collapse of Ghulam Nabi Azad’s Democratic Progressive Azad Party (DPAP), less than years after its launch, has not only revealed the limits of its political appeal in Jammu and Kashmir but has also dealt a serious blow to Azad’s credibility.

 

Launched with much fanfare in October 2022 following Azad’s dramatic exit from Congress after five decades, DPAP briefly stirred excitement in a region grappling with the fallout of Article 370 and the loss of statehood.

 

Many believed that, given Azad’s long political career and national stature, the party could emerge as a strong regional force. Several prominent Congress leaders joined him, lending early momentum to the new outfit.

 

However, Azad failed to sustain that initial support. Over time, a growing perception took hold that he was working to weaken both Congress and regional parties to the benefit of the BJP. 

 

This belief—that Azad was tacitly helping the very party responsible for revoking Jammu and Kashmir’s special status—severely damaged DPAP’s image, especially among the Muslims.

 

The party’s poor performance in both the 2024 Lok Sabha and the subsequent Assembly elections confirmed its fading relevance.

 

In the Lok Sabha polls, senior leaders G.M. Saroori and Taj Mohi-ud-Din lost badly. In the Assembly polls, DPAP contested 23 seats but failed to win even one. 

 

In five constituencies, its candidates polled fewer votes than the NOTA (None of the Above) option—an embarrassing outcome that signalled complete rejection by voters. 

 

As confidence in DPAP faded, many of its leaders began to return to Congress. 

 

In April this year, Azad quietly dissolved all grassroots units of the party—a tacit admission of its collapse.

 

On Thursday, two of Azad’s closest aides, Saroori and Mohi-ud-Din, formally rejoined Congress, publicly admitting that leaving the party had been a grave mistake. 

 

Their return has sparked a fresh wave of desertions from DPAP, with other former ministers such as Abdul Majid Wani and Jugal Kishore Sharma expected to follow.

 

Congress leaders have welcomed their return and acknowledged that internal resistance within the party may have delayed such moves earlier, possibly costing them several Assembly seats. 

 

Now, with experienced leaders back in the fold, the Congress is working to rebuild its base across Jammu and Kashmir.

 

Azad stands politically isolated. Once a towering national figure and key voice from the region, his future now appears deeply uncertain.

India