Ghulam Nabi Azad, the chairperson of the Democratic Progressive Azad Party (DPAP), recently commended the Election Commission’s choice to defer elections in the Anantnag-Rajouri constituency, attributing this move to providing relief for numerous political factions. Azad stressed the significance of assembly elections over parliamentary ones, underscoring the importance of having a legislative assembly and lawmakers elected through the voting process.
During his campaign in Rajouri for DPAP's candidate, Mohammad Saleem, Azad raised concerns about the Election Commission's scheduling of polling in the constituency, leading to him and other political entities sending a letter to the Election Commission to request the postponement of elections until the Mughal road is accessible. He expressed the challenges posed by the lengthy travel time within the region, questioning the feasibility of six-day journeys within the constituency.
Furthermore, Azad discussed the implications of the delayed elections on the Nomadic community's voting capabilities, assuring that their ability to vote would not be hampered due to their relocation to snow-covered areas until June. Additionally, he commented on the uniqueness of the Anantnag-Rajouri seat, labeling it as "romantic" and emphasizing its historical significance as the first constituency created post-1947, encompassing parts of the Jammu and Kashmir regions. Azad also addressed the topic of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs), highlighting previous concerns raised by various parties but acknowledging the court and the Election Commission's validation of their correctness.