Former Congress veteran and Democratic Progressive Azad Party chairman Ghulam Nabi Azad has accused INDIA allies such as the Congress, the National Conference and the People’s Democratic Party of joining hands to cut his votes and help the BJP win in Chenab Valley in Jammu as he himself battles allegations of being a BJP man.

Azad, who has served as the chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir, has been touring the Muslim-majority Chenab Valley. His top agenda is to convince people that he has no link with the BJP as he is aware that perceived connections might hamper his prospects.

Azad has gone the whole hog this year to target Rahul Gandhi. The Congress, the NC and the PDP have accused him of being close to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP.

“They (NC) had two members in the Lok Sabha, why didn’t they speak? At least they should have stood up if they had no courage to speak. Are they with the BJP or I?” Azad told a gathering in Doda district on Thursday.

Azad suggested that the Congress, the NC and the PDP would help the BJP in Chenab by cutting anti-BJP votes. “Today they are one. Chor chor maseri bhai (all thieves are cousins). And they are making allegations against me. They are vote cutters… They are fighting us together to make the BJP win.”