Former Jammu and Kashmir CM Ghulam Nabi Azad on Sunday batted for his ex-party Congress against the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh assembly elections, ndtv.com quoted news agency ANI.

According to him, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) is "merely a party of UT Delhi".

Azad's comments come months after he quit the Grand Old Party amid quite a bit of acrimony.

"Although I have separated from Congress, I wasn't against their policy of secularism. It was only due to the party's system getting weakened. I would still want Congress to perform well in Gujarat and HP Assembly polls. AAP isn't capable to do so," Azad said on Sunday.

Reposing confidence in the Congress, he said "the party takes along everybody, Hindu, and Muslim farmers. He said that Aam Aadmi Party can't do anything in these states, they have failed in Punjab and the people of Punjab will not vote for them again."

Launching a broadside at Aam Aadmi Party, Azad said, "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."

Elaborating on finance minister Nirmala Sitaraman dropping hint that Centre may restore statehood to J&K, Azad said that he had taken this issue many times and if Centre Government will do that's a welcome step.

Azad is currently on a tour of Doda where he will be addressing several rallies in the coming days.