| To keep his flock together, Azad supports Er Rasheed | | Baramulla Lok Sabha seat | |  Early Times Report
Jammu, May 16: Within minutes after former MLA from Sangrama Shoiab Lone resigned from the party, the Democratic Progressive Azad Party (DPAP) announced its support to Engineer Rashid for the Baramulla Lok Sabha seat.
In a hurriedly convened press conference, the senior leader of the DPAP and former minister Taj Mohi-ud-Din said that their party has decided to support jailed Engineer Rashid after his son Abrar Rashid approached DPAP chairman Ghulam Nabi Azad to seek his support for his father.
“Engineer Rashid is innocent, and people want him out of jail. He has always fought for the people’s cause, so this is injustice”, the former minister said. He further mentioned that after his son Abrar Rashid’s appeal to their chairman Ghulam Nabi Azad, they have decided to extend their support to Engineer Rashid and appeal to voters to ensure his victory.
“I don’t know why Shoaib Lone has resigned, but we as a party have backed Engineer Rashid from day one. I even spoke with his son. Our workers have been campaigning from the start,” Taj stated.
Earlier DPAP received a severe setback in Kashmir as former Member Legislative Assembly (MLA) from Sangrama Shoiab Lone resigned from the party.
After resigning from the DPAP Shoiab Lone, who has a strong mass base in Sangrama and adjoining localities, announced to support Engineer Rashid on Baramulla Lok Sabha constituency.
Shoaib Lone, who previously won the Assembly election from Sangrama, has announced his support for jailed politician Engineer Rashid, who is contesting elections from the Baramulla Parliamentary Constituency.
Realzing growing discontent among party leaders Ghulam Nabi Azad, clarified the party’s stance on the Baramulla Lok Sahha seat.
Azad mentioned that his party leaders view Engineer Rashid as the best choice for the constituency and that he did not prevent them from supporting him.
Following the resignation of former MLA Sangrama Shoaib Lone from the party, Azad explained that DPAP had decided not to field a candidate in North Kashmir. Instead, party members identified Engineer Rashid as a suitable candidate.
“They see Omar Abdullah as an outsider and consider Engineer Rashid a better choice. Therefore, I didn’t stop them from supporting him,” Azad elaborated. |
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