Ghulam Nabi Azad’s nephew joining BJP is unlikely to dent Congress

With an eye on holding elections in Jammu and Kashmir before winter, the BJP’s efforts to widen its support base received a boost on Sunday after Mubashir Azad, the nephew of senior Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad, joined the party.

Mubashir is the son of Azad’s youngest brother Liaqat Ali. He claimed he was motivated to join the BJP due to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s development works.

This is the second time that a member of the Azad clan has joined the BJP. In April 2009, Azad’s brother Ghulam Ali had joined the BJP.

Mubashir said he was hurt by the disrespect shown to his uncle by the Congress party.

Observers believe that Mubashir joining the BJP is unlikely to dent the Congress as Azad has a firm grip on the Congress supporters.

Last year, Azad held impressive rallies in his home district and Muslim-majority Chenab valley and also in other parts of Jammu including Banihal. Azad also commands respect and influence among the Hindu voters of the Congress.

Azad is part of the 23-member group of dissident leaders of the Congress (known as G-23). Azad had made a great show of his support base to signal to the Congress leadership that he cannot be side-lined or dumped.

After his impressive rallies, he was made the in-charge of the UP elections.

Mubashir was welcomed to the BJP by the party’s state president Ravinder Raina and senior leaders of the party like Daleep Singh Parihar.

The BJP is keen to build a social coalition in Jammu and Kashmir ahead of the elections to emerge victorious.

Political parties in J&K have begun mobilising after Home Minister Amit Shah’s recent statement that elections will be held in the UT in the next six-eight months.

Mubashir joining the BJP was described by Raina as a “turning point” that will pave the way for more young activists from the Chenab valley region to join the party.

“The BJP is growing fast with the joining of political leaders from opposition parties, social workers from all communities whether Hindus, Muslims, Gujjars, Bakarwals and Paharis,” he said.

After joining the BJP, Mubashir Azad said the Congress party is marred by infighting.

He said under the leadership of Modi, the work for the welfare of the people is taking place on the ground in Jammu and Kashmir.

“The way the Congress treated (Ghulam Nabi) Azad, one of the charismatic leaders of the party and former chief minister, has hurt the sentiments of the common masses,” he said.

He said his uncle was praised by the prime minister for his service to the nation but was side-lined by his own party.