Former J&K Minister Taj Mohiddun quits Ghulam Nabi Azad’s party; to rejoin Congress

Srinagar (Jammu and Kashmir) [India], August 17 (ANI): In a blow to Democratic Progressive Azad Party chairman Ghulam Nabi Azad ahead of the assembly polls, former Jammu and Kashmir minister, Taj Mohiuddin has announced his resignation from the party.

Mohiuddin told ANI over the phone that he would rejoin the Congress soon.

He described his return to Congress as a “homecoming.”

Taj Mohiuddin also mentioned that he is joining the Congress party with the consent of Ghulam Nabi Azad and it is his wish that Azad should also return to the party.

The former J-K Minister also expressed his desire to contest the elections and said that if the Congress party gives him a ticket, he is ready to contest the elections.

Meanwhile, the Assembly elections in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir will be held in three phases from September 18 to October 1, Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar announced on Friday.

As per the announcement, the voters in Jammu and Kashmir will cast their votes on September 18, and September 25, and the third phase will take place on October 1, along with Haryana.

The counting of the votes will take place on October 4 for Haryana and Jammu and Kashmir.

In Jammu and Kashmir, there are 87.09 lakh total electors. Of which 44.46 lakh are male, 42.62 female, 169 are Transgender, 82,590 PwDs, 73943 very senior citizens, 2660 centenarians, 76092 service electors, and 3.71 lakh are first-time voters.

In December of last year, the Supreme Court directed the Centre to conclude the election process by September 30, 2024.

Jammu and Kashmir will witness elections after a gap of ten years as the last assembly election was held in 2014. The PDP-BJP coalition government fell in June 2018 when the latter withdrew support to the then-Chief Minister, Mehbooba Mufti.