'Only Congress Can...': GN Azad's Praise Months After Quitting Party

Ghulam Nabi Azad On Congress: Azad stated months after quitting the Congress party that he was not against the party's secularism position, but rather its weak party system.

Ghulam Nabi Azad, former Congress leader, stated on Sunday that only the Congress could face the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh assembly elections, while the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) is "merely a party of UT Delhi," news agency ANI reported. 

Months after leaving the Congress party, Azad stated that he was not against the party's secularism stance, but rather its weak party system.

Azad had earlier left the Congress party after a 52-year association. Azad announced his new political organisation, the 'Democratic Azad Party,' in October.

"Although I have separated from Congress, I wasn't against their policy of secularism," he told ANI in Srinagar. "I would still want Congress to perform well in Gujarat and HP Assembly polls. AAP isn't capable of doing so."

Ghulam Nabi Azad is now on a trip to Doda, where he will meet with several delegations and address several rallies in the following days.

He expressed faith in the Congress, saying that the party accepts Hindu and Muslim farmers alike. He said that the Aam Aadmi Party is powerless in these states, that they have failed in Punjab, and that the people of Punjab will not vote for them again.

Azad launched a stinging attack on the Aam Aadmi Party "AAP is merely a party of UT Delhi. They can't run Punjab efficiently, only Congress can challenge BJP in Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh as they have an inclusive policy," news agency ANI quoted him as saying. 

On Finance Minister Nirmala Sitaraman's suggestion that the Centre considers restoring J&K's statehood, he said that he has raised the topic many times and that if the Centre Government does so, it will be a good move.

In his resignation letter to Sonia Gandhi, he criticised the party's leadership, notably Rahul Gandhi, for the way the party has been governed for nearly nine years.

Azad alleged in the five-page letter that the party is managed by a clique, with Sonia Gandhi serving only as "a nominal head" and all critical decisions being made by "Rahul Gandhi or, worse, his security guards and PAs."

Gujarat elections will be contested in two phases on December 1 and 5. The votes will be counted on December 8. In Gujarat, the BJP has won six straight assembly elections. 

(With Inputs From ANI)