Fighting his maiden Lok Sabha election from his home state, Union Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad today filed his nomination from Udhampur-Doda seat and voiced confidence that people will reject BJP's "propaganda about Modi wave".
Flanked by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and state Congress chief Saif-uddin-Soz, the 65-year-old-leader arrived at the election office here in a procession.
"Congress is 129 years old and is rooted to ground. Those creating propaganda of (Modi) wave will be defeated as those rooted to the ground will only be victorious," he said at a rally after filing his nomination.
"There is no Modi wave. It is mere propaganda," he said.
Endorsing Azad's views, Omar said "I promise Azad and Congress that we will send him victorious from here. It is not Azad Sahib who is contesting, it is Omar who is contesting from here".
He ruled out any Modi wave and claimed BJP will face the same fate as its India Shining campaign of 2004.
This is the first time that Azad, who served as J and K Chief Minister from April 2006 to 2008 and has a political career spanning nearly 40 years, is contesting Lok Sabha seat from the state. He was elected twice from Washim Lok Sabha seat in Maharashtra in 1980 and 1984.
Born on March 7, 1949 in Soti village of Bhaderwah belt in Doda district, Azad has contested Assembly elections twice in the state. He had to forfeit his security deposit in his first election but later won from his native Bhaderwah constituency as a Chief Minister.
Azad is facing BJP candidate Jatinder Singh, who is hoping to cash in on possible polarisation of voters due to August 2013 communal riots in the constituency's Kishtwar district.
Singh, who also hails from Doda, is contesting election for the first time and is brother of Omar's trusted lieutenant and National Conference chief for Jammu, Devender Rana.
He joined BJP three years ago and is chief spokesman of state BJP.
