As former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister and defence minister, Ghulam Nabi Azad has launched his autobiography ‘Azaad’, prior to the launch he spoke to The Times Of India’s Subodh Ghildiyal on the topic of unity in the opposition for the 2024 Lok Sabha Elections. Ghulam Nabi Azad is an influential figure in the political arena and his take on opposition unity gives us a peek into the forthcoming Indian elections.
While Azad has raised his voice in favour of opposition unity, he feels that chances are remote due to the lack of symmetry between the parties. As per Azad, an alliance to be successful needs to work both ways and when one party has zero presence in multiple states, the opportunity for a relationship worked two ways is lost. To him, the discussions around opposition unity are in vain as no one has taken the effort to understand the fundamentals of politics.
Azad, the leader of Democratic Alliance Party (DAP) has not been approached for negotiations with the opposition but he is not discounting the possibility. His plan is to make DAP a big player and for that reason, he has decided not to form alliances.
Talking about the delimitations that took place in Jammu and Kashmir, Azad acknowledges that while it had several issues, accepting the report is the only way forward. His opinion on the 2024 polls is that the mood of people will decide who wins. He reflects on the surprise outcome of 2004 in which BJP lost even with the India Shining campaign and was replaced by UPA-2, indicating that past success does not guarantee future voter favour.
In conclusion, Ghulam Nabi Azad’s views on the possibility of opposition unity for the 2024 Lok Sabha Elections affirm that, as of now, there is little chance of a coalition being formed. As the veteran politician has observed, both parties in the coalition must provide mutual benefit, which is not the case currently. It remains to be seen how the political landscape willmorph over the next few years, as the Indian public’s opinion could eventually pave the way for a united opposition.
The Democratic Alliance Party (DAP) is a new entrant to Indian politics,led by Ghulam Nabi Azad. It aims to fill the vacuum of political leadership in Jammu and Kashmir as well as nation-wide, and has seen an impressive growth in membership in a short span of time. Its stature has seen a rapid rise and it is sure to remain one of the key forces in Indian politics.
Ghulam Nabi Azad is is a veteran Congress leader and former Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir who has served as Union Minister in various capacities. He is also credited with bringing peace to the Kashmir Valley during his tenure, as well as successful campaigns to ensure basic rights to citizens. Having authored the book, ‘Azaad’, he is spreading a message of peaceful coexistence. With his strong political acumen and ideologies, he is expected to remain an influential figure in the years to come.
