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Journalism of Courage
Former J&K CM Ghulam Nabi Azad, chairman of the Democratic Progressive Azad Party (DPAP), has decided not to contest from the Anantnag-Rajouri parliamentary constituency, with his party instead fielding Salim Parray from the seat.
On Friday, the last day for filing nomination, Parray submitted his papers at the office of the Anantnag deputy commissioner. He is a sitting member of the Anantnag District Development Council, and is the DPAP spokesperson. Azad said he was not contesting as he did not want to return to Delhi, but wanted to “stay here and serve the people”.
On April 2, the DPAP had announced Azad would contest from Anantnag-Rajouri seat, after which he said he would “lead his party from the front”. After Parray filed his nomination, Azad said, “He is a lawyer, an educated person, who used to fight individual cases in the HC. He will now represent our state and its people in India’s highest seat of democracy, the Lok Sabha.”
About his decision he said, “It has nothing to do with who is contesting and who isn’t. After I left Delhi and came here, I was reminded by people you are returning to Delhi (by contesting Lok Sabha). So, I have decided to stay here and serve the people.” Parray will face NC’s Mian Altaf Lahrvi and PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti in the South Kashmir seat.
