Former J&K minister Taj Mohiuddin quits DPAP, set to rejoin Congress
Former J&K minister Taj Mohiuddin is returning to the Congress party, regretting his departure as a mistake influenced by Ghulam Nabi Azad's DPAP, which he now accuses of following a BJP agenda. Mohiuddin, who felt uneasy after leaving Congress, e...
By Hakeem Irfan Rashid, ET Bureau | Updated:
Agencies
Former J&K minister Taj Mohiuddin is set to return to the Congress party after a brief stint with the Democratic Political Azad Party led by Ghulam Nabi Azad.
Senior politician from Uri constituency of northern Kashmir's Baramulla district, Mohiuddin, said he was always a Congressman and leaving the party was a bad mistake and a blot on his political career. "I was distracted by a deceptive breeze. And after I left Congress, I couldn't even face the party leadership who I always respected," Mohiuddin told ET. He said Azad turned out to be running the DPAP, on the "agenda of Jan Sangh". "I didn't know Azad sahib will walk this path of following the BJP's agenda. It became clear through his speeches and in the last assembly elections in J&K," said Mohiuddin. He confirmed that he has been in touch with the party leadership in J&K and will be rejoining the party soon. "I fought the last assembly elections as an independent candidate and managed to get 25,000 votes but lost. The BJP has spread the propaganda that they are supporting all independent candidates," said Mohiuddin. The former minister said he didn't want to betray the Congress and never felt at peace after leaving the party. "I was an MLA with the party, and it was Congress that made me a minister," he said.
Mohiuddin has been a key figure in J&K politics and served as a minister during the coalition governments of Congress-PDP during 2002-2008 and NC-Congress during 2008-2014.After the dismal performance in the 2024 Lok Sabha and assembly polls, in which the DPAP failed to win a single seat, most of the leaders left the party. "Many more people are returning to Congress as DPAP is dead. Azad sahib himself dissolved the party structure recently. In the coming days GM Saroori, Abdul Majid Wani, Jugal Kishore and Gulzar Ahmad Wani will also rejoin the Congress," said Mohiuddin.
Earlier this month, former two-time legislator Mohammad Amin Bhat, a close associate of Azad, rejoined the Congress.
Senior politician from Uri constituency of northern Kashmir's Baramulla district, Mohiuddin, said he was always a Congressman and leaving the party was a bad mistake and a blot on his political career. "I was distracted by a deceptive breeze. And after I left Congress, I couldn't even face the party leadership who I always respected," Mohiuddin told ET. He said Azad turned out to be running the DPAP, on the "agenda of Jan Sangh". "I didn't know Azad sahib will walk this path of following the BJP's agenda. It became clear through his speeches and in the last assembly elections in J&K," said Mohiuddin. He confirmed that he has been in touch with the party leadership in J&K and will be rejoining the party soon. "I fought the last assembly elections as an independent candidate and managed to get 25,000 votes but lost. The BJP has spread the propaganda that they are supporting all independent candidates," said Mohiuddin. The former minister said he didn't want to betray the Congress and never felt at peace after leaving the party. "I was an MLA with the party, and it was Congress that made me a minister," he said.
Mohiuddin has been a key figure in J&K politics and served as a minister during the coalition governments of Congress-PDP during 2002-2008 and NC-Congress during 2008-2014.After the dismal performance in the 2024 Lok Sabha and assembly polls, in which the DPAP failed to win a single seat, most of the leaders left the party. "Many more people are returning to Congress as DPAP is dead. Azad sahib himself dissolved the party structure recently. In the coming days GM Saroori, Abdul Majid Wani, Jugal Kishore and Gulzar Ahmad Wani will also rejoin the Congress," said Mohiuddin.
Earlier this month, former two-time legislator Mohammad Amin Bhat, a close associate of Azad, rejoined the Congress.
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