Jammu and Kashmir Awami Ittehad Party

Jammu and Kashmir Awami Ittehad Party
AbbreviationAIP
LeaderEngineer Rashid
ChairmanMohammad Yousuf Bhat
FounderEngineer Rashid
Founded12 June 2013; 11 years ago (2013-06-12)[1]
HeadquartersSrinagar
Youth wingAIP Youth Wing
IdeologyKashmiriyat
ECI Statusnot granted
Seats in Lok Sabha
1 / 543
Seats in Rajya Sabha
0 / 245
Seats in Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly
1 / 90
Seats in District Development Council
3 / 280
Website
awamiithadpartyjk.com

Awami Ittehad Party (abbr. JKAIP) is an Indian political party in Jammu and Kashmir union territory.[2] Founded in 2013 by Engineer Rashid, the party has been active in local politics, including the 2024 Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly election.[3][4]

While the Jammu and Kashmir Awami Ittehad Party presents itself as an alternative to traditional political forces in the region,[5][6] some political commentators have speculated that it may have ties to or be indirectly sponsored by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), possibly acting as a proxy.[5][7] However, the party leadership has consistently denied these claims, asserting its independence and focus on regional issues.[8][9]

  1. ^ Life, Kashmir (16 Jun 2013). "Divided We Stand". Kashmir Life. Retrieved 9 Oct 2024.
  2. ^ Gilani, Iftikhar (2024-06-22). "Kashmir Elections 2024: Engineer Rashid's Surprising Win Signals Political Shift". Frontline. Retrieved 2024-09-12.
  3. ^ "AIP announces maiden list of nine candidates for assembly elections". Greater Kashmir. 2024-08-22. Retrieved 2024-09-12.
  4. ^ RAHEEM, TARIQUE (2024-09-11). "AIP's Firdous Baba files nomination papers for Kupwara". Greater Kashmir. Retrieved 2024-09-12.
  5. ^ a b Shabir, Zaid Bin (19 Sep 2024). "Engineer Rashid: A Disruptor of Kashmir's Existing Political Equations or a 'Proxy' of the Modi Government?". Frontline. Retrieved 9 Oct 2024.
  6. ^ Bhakto, Anando (18 Sep 2024). "Does BJP have a hand in Engineer Rashid's political prominence?". Deccan Herald. Retrieved 9 Oct 2024.
  7. ^ Bhushan, Bharat (13 Sep 2024). "Is Engineer Rashid's bail BJP's wild card in J&K?". Deccan Herald. Retrieved 9 Oct 2024.
  8. ^ The Hindu Bureau (11 Sep 2024). "Engineer Rashid says he is no 'BJP proxy'". The Hindu. Retrieved 9 Oct 2024.
  9. ^ Thakur, Nirbhay; Iqbal, Naveed (11 Sep 2024). "Engineer Rashid walks out, dismisses 'BJP proxy' tag; party dubs him 'rank separatist'". The Indian Express. Retrieved 9 Oct 2024.