Democratic Progressive Azad Party
The Democratic Progressive Azad Party (abbr. DPAP) formerly Democratic Azad Party[1][2] is an Indian political party formed by Ghulam Nabi Azad on 26 September 2022 in Jammu and Kashmir.[3][4] The party's top three agendas in Jammu and Kashmir are restoration of full statehood, right to land and employment to native domiciles.[5] The party's ideology is based on the ideals of Mahatma Gandhi.[6]
Democratic Progressive Azad Party | |
|---|---|
| Abbreviation | DPAP |
| President | Ghulam Nabi Azad |
| General Secretary | R.S. Chib |
| Founder | Ghulam Nabi Azad |
| Founded | 26 September 2022 |
| Split from | Indian National Congress |
| Ideology | Gandhism Secularism Nationalism |
| ECI Status | Registered |
| Seats in District Development Council | 0 / 280 |
| Seats in Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly | 0 / 90 |
| Website | |
| www | |
Name edit
The name of the Democratic Azad Party was announced by Ghulam Nabi Azad on 26 September 2022. He received almost 1,500 names in Sanskrit, Hindi, and Urdu as suggestion for name of the party. He preferred this one since it contains a Hindustani term.[6] On 18 November 2022, Election Commission of India rejected the name and asked Azad to change it.[7] In December 2022, the final name of the Democratic Azad Party was changed to Democratic Progressive Azad Party.[2]
History edit
On 26 August 2022, Azad announced his resignation from the Congress Party in a public letter after launching a scathing attack on the top leadership, particularly Rahul Gandhi.[3] After the resignation of Azad, J&K's Congress including former ministers R.S. Chib, Ghulam Mohammad Saroori and Abdul Rashid; former MLAs Mohammad Amin Bhat, Gulzar Ahmad Wani and Choudhary Mohammad Akram; former MLC Naresh Gupta and party leader Salman Nizami resigned from the basic membership of the Congress party in support of Ghulam Nabi Azad.[8][9]
In response to Azad's resignation, the Congress initially questioned the timing of his decision before launching a vicious counterattack and accusing that he was working closely with the BJP. Azad received criticism from a number of Congress officials, including the party's two chief ministers, Ashok Gehlot and Bhupesh Baghel.[10]
On 29 August 2022, four politicians from Congress, including former deputy speaker of the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly Gulam Hyder Malik, two MLCs viz. Subash Gupta from Kathua and Sham Lal Bhagat from Doda, General secretary of the Jammu and Kashmir Congress Maheshwar Singh Manhas, and 12 workers of the Apni Party from Doda, including its district president Asgar Hussain Khanday, District general secretary Virender Kumar Sharma, and district vice-president (women's wing) Promila Sharma also resigned from their respective political parties in support of Ghulam Nabi Azad.[11]
On 30 August 2022, former deputy chief of Jammu and Kashmir Tara Chand, along with former ministers Abdul Majid Wani, Manohar Lal Sharma, Gharu Ram Bhagat, and Balwan Singh, among 64 others, jointly resigned from the Congress party.[12]
On 31 August 2022, 42 more politicians from Congress party resigned from their basic membership of Congress to join Azad's new political party.[13]
On 1 September 2022, more than 36 Congress leaders—including Anirudh Raina, State Vice President NSUI and Manik Sharma, General Secretary of the National Students' Union of India (NSUI), the party's student wing—from several universities in Jammu submitted their resignations in support of Ghulam Nabi Azad.[14]
On 2 September 2022, Congress leader Rajinder Prasad from Rajouri resigned in favour of Azad after criticising Congress party's functioning.[15]
On 4 September 2022, Azad announced the formation of a new political party after resigning from Congress. He said the people of Jammu and Kashmir will decide the name and the flag for the new party.[16]
On 26 September 2022, Azad launched his party as Democratic Azad Party.[17]
On 22 December 2022, Azad expelled three leaders from party including Tara Chand, Dr. Manohar Lal and Balwan Singh for 'anti-party' activities.[18]
Flag edit
The DAP's flag is made up of the colours mustard, white, and dark blue. White denotes peace, blue denotes freedom, wide space, imagination, and limits from the depths of the ocean to the heights of the sky, according to Azad, while mustard denotes creativity and unity in variety.[19]
Organisation and structure edit
President edit
| Sl No | Name | Portrait | Posts held in J&K |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Ghulam Nabi Azad (26 September 2022 - Incumbent) | Former Chief Minister of erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir Rajya Sabha Member from J&K |
Treasurer edit
| Sl No | Name | Portrait | Position in government |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Taj Mohiuddin |
General Secretaries edit
| Sl No | Name | Portrait | Position in government |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Rajinder Singh Chib(I/c) Media and Communication Department |
Chief Spokesperson edit
| Sl No | Name | Portrait | Position in government |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Salman Nizami |
Spokesperson edit
| Sl No | Name | Portrait | Position in government |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Imran Zafar | ||
| 2. | Sujada Bashar | ||
| 3. | Nirmandeep Singh | ||
| 4. | Sanjay Manhas | ||
| 5. | Firdous Nabi | ||
| 6. | Sharik Saroori | ||
| 7. | Choudhary Zaffran |
Media Coordinators & Additional Spokesperson edit
| Sl No | Name | Portrait | Field/Area |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Vishal Chopra | Print Media | |
| 2. | Ashwani Handa | Electronic Media | |
| 3. | Waseem Dar | Kashmir | |
| 4. | Advocate Heena Sultan | Kashmir | |
| 5. | Randeep Bhandari | Chenab Valley | |
| 6. | Sanam Shah | Peer Panchal |
Social Media Coordinators edit
| Sl No | Name | Portrait | Area |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Ashutosh Raina | ||
| 2. | Rehana Anjum | ||
| 3. | Waseem Ganai | ||
| 4. | Raja Haq Sohil | ||
| 5. | Mohabat Ali (MAC) |
State Committee Jammu & Kashmir edit
Vice Chairman edit
References edit
- ^ "With a namesake in UP, Azad's party to be rechristened as Democratic Progressive Azad Party". The Dispatch. 27 December 2022. Retrieved 28 December 2022.
- ^ a b "Azad's Party To Be Christened As Democratic Progressive Azad Party". Kashmir Life. 27 December 2022. Retrieved 28 December 2022.
- ^ a b "Ghulam Nabi Azad Announces Name of His New Party as 'Democratic Azad Party'". The Quint. 26 September 2022. Retrieved 26 September 2022.
- ^ "In 'Democratic Azad Party', Ghulam Nabi Azad says youth, seniors would co-exist". Hindustan Times. 26 September 2022. Retrieved 26 September 2022.
- ^ "Full Statehood, Jobs to Natives & More: With Big Plans for J&K, Azad Announces Own Party, Says People Will Decide its Name & Flag". News18 India. 2 September 2022. Retrieved 26 September 2022.
- ^ a b "Democratic Azad Party: All about the new party formed by Ghulam Nabi Azad". The Economic Times. 26 September 2022. Retrieved 26 September 2022.
- ^ "EC tells Ghulam Nabi Azad to change his party's name". New Indian Express. 21 November 2022. Retrieved 28 December 2022.
- ^ "8 J&K Cong leaders quit in support of Azad, more likely to go; may announce new party". Indian Express. 26 August 2022. Retrieved 27 September 2022.
- ^ "Another jolt to Congress: 5 J&K leaders quit after Ghulam Nabi Azad's resignation". India Today. 26 August 2022. Retrieved 26 September 2022.
- ^ "Cong's reply: His DNA is modi-fied, remote in Modi hands". Indian Express. 26 August 2022. Retrieved 26 September 2022.
- ^ "Four more Congress leaders, 12 Apni Party workers, resign in support of Ghulam Nabi Azad in J&K". The Hindu. 29 August 2022. Retrieved 26 September 2022.
- ^ "64 J-K Cong leaders quit party in support of Azad". The Print. 30 August 2022. Retrieved 26 September 2022.
- ^ "Mountain of TROUBLE for Congress, 42 more leaders resign in support of Ghulam Nabi Azad". Zee News. 31 August 2022. Retrieved 26 September 2022.
- ^ "J&K: Over 36 Congress, NSUI leaders resign in solidarity with Ghulam Nabi Azad". News on All India Radio. 1 September 2022. Retrieved 1 September 2022.
- ^ "J-K Cong leader Rajinder Prasad resigns; blames 'coterie' system for party's 'demise'". ThePrint. 2 September 2022. Retrieved 27 September 2022.
- ^ "Full Statehood, Jobs to Natives & More: With Big Plans for J&K, Azad Announces Own Party, Says People Will Decide its Name & Flag". News18. 2022-09-04. Retrieved 2022-09-04.
- ^ "Azad announces party name as "Democratic Azad Party"". The Chenab Times. 26 September 2022. Retrieved 26 September 2022.
- ^ "Azad expels Tara Chand, two other leaders from newly launched DAP". Greater Kashmir. 22 December 2022. Retrieved 22 December 2022.
- ^ "Ghulam Nabi Azad floats new party; names it as 'Democratic Azad Party'". The Hindu. 26 September 2022. Retrieved 26 September 2022.