Will BJP rehabilitate Ghulam Nabi Azad by making him J&K's next Lt Governor?
Once considered a towering figure in Indian politics and a Congress stalwart for over five decades, Ghulam Nabi Azad finds himself at a political crossroads after the failure of his Democratic Progressive Azad Party (DPAP) in Jammu and Kashmir.
His return to regional politics after parting ways with the Congress in 2022 was seen as a bold move. Still, the experiment did not resonate with the electorate in the Union territory. DPAP, launched with much fanfare, struggled to gain traction.
It failed to mobilise a strong cadre due to a strong perception that he was working at the behest of the Bharatiya Janata Party to weaken the regional parties.
The DPAP suffered desertions, and key aides rejoined the Congress. The party's poor performance in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, where it didn’t field any serious candidates, underlined its marginal status.
In the assembly elections last year, the party failed to secure a respectable number of votes, let alone win any seats. Despite the political setback, Azad remains close to the power corridors in Delhi.
His cordial relationship with Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been evident since his emotional farewell in the Rajya Sabha in 2021, where Modi praised Azad’s contributions and friendship.
The goodwill seems to have endured. Azad was recently part of an important delegation sent by the government of India to various world capitals after the terrorist attack on tourists in Pahalgam and Operation Sindoor.
His inclusion in this team of seasoned diplomats and former ministers hinted that New Delhi still considers him a valuable voice, especially for outreach and diplomacy. This has led to speculation about his future role — could the BJP-led Centre rehabilitate Azad by appointing him to some position?
One possibility being discussed in political circles is his appointment as the next Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir, as Manoj Sinha’s term ends in August.
However, such a scenario seems unlikely for multiple reasons. Tradition, and arguably political necessity, dictate that the LG of Jammu and Kashmir be a Hindu, given the post’s ceremonial responsibilities over the Vaishno Devi and Amarnath shrines, two of Hinduism’s holiest pilgrimage sites. It is politically sensitive and would be hard to justify a Muslim LG overseeing religious boards linked to these shrines.
This runs counter to the BJP's ideology of hindutva. Observers opine that the road ahead for Azad is a difficult one. Even the BJP, after he failed to make an impression in Jammu and Kashmir, may find him of little value.
That said, it remains to be seen whether Azad will be accommodated by the Modi government anywhere for his experience and for being a moderate Muslim voice.
India