Former chief minister Ghulam Nabi Azad has denied rumors that he is interested in becoming the Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir. He clarified that he is not seeking employment, but rather wants to serve the people of Jammu and Kashmir. Addressing a rally on the foundation day of his Democratic Progressive Azad Party, Azad urged people not to trust the rumor mills. He emphasized that he returned to Jammu and Kashmir politics to serve, not for personal gain. Azad also highlighted the issues of unemployment and inflation in the region and expressed his plans to address them by tapping into the tourism potential of the area. He criticized the abrogation of Article 370 and Article 35A by the central government in 2019, calling it a “great mistake”. Azad urged party leaders to refrain from making personal attacks on opponents and demanded the death penalty for those involved in the drug trade in Jammu and Kashmir.