Srinagar, May 16 -- Massive outpouring of support for Shaikh Abdul Rashid, commonly known as Engineer Rashid, a former MLA from Langate, who is contesting the elections despite being incarcerated in Tihar jail on UAPA charges, has surprised the political pundits.

Former Congress leader Ghulam NabiAzad's regional outfit in Jammu and Kashmir - the Democratic Progressive Azad Party (DPAP) - on Thursday announced its support for Rashid, who is contesting as an Independent candidate from the Baramulla Lok Sabha seat in North Kashmir.

Arrested in 2019 in a terror funding case, Engineer Rashid - heads the regional Awami Ittehad Party and had voted for Azad during the 2015 Rajya Sabha elections. He was an MLA from the Lagate assembly seat in th...