Internal restructuring or winding up? Future unclear as Ghulam Nabi Azad dissolves all units of DPAP party

Former Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad has dissolved all units of his party, the Democratic Progressive Azad Party (DPAP), triggering widespread speculation about his political future.

 

Azad launched the DPAP in 2022, shortly after ending his five decadeslong association with the Congress. He was also part of the G-22, a group of senior Congress dissidents who had pushed for internal reforms in the party.

 

At the time of its formation, the DPAP attracted significant attention, and several leaders from the Congress joined Azad. However, most of them returned to the Congress after Rahul Gandhi’s Bharat Jodo Yatra in late 2022 rekindled support for the party.

 

In the 2024 Jammu and Kashmir Assembly elections, the DPAP performed poorly. The party fielded 23 candidates but failed to win a single seat. Five candidates polled fewer votes than NOTA (None of the Above).

 

DPAP also failed to make a mark in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, trailing behind established parties like the National Conference (NC), Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Congress.

 

The decision to dissolve the party’s entire organisational structure—state, district, block, and zonal committees—was confirmed in a joint statement issued by DPAP spokesperson Bashir Arif and Azad’s secretary.

 

It remains unclear whether the move signals an internal restructuring or a possible shift in Azad’s political path. Observers say the failure to build DPAP as a credible alternative to both regional and national parties has led to disillusionment among Azad’s supporters.

 

One major factor behind the party’s decline was the perception—pushed by Congress and other regional players—that Azad was aligned with the BJP. This narrative gained strength after the abrogation of Article 370 and the conversion of Jammu and Kashmir into a Union territory in 2019.

These allegations significantly hampered Azad’s outreach, particularly among Muslim voters in the Jammu region, who had once formed a key part of his support base.

 

For now, Azad’s next political move remains uncertain, as speculation continues over whether he will attempt a revival or exit active politics altogether.

India