J&K Assembly Elections 2024: BJP Expels Leader For Contesting Polls As Independent

The Jammu and Kashmir unit of the BJP expelled a party leader who is contesting as an independent against the party's official candidate for the Jammu North assembly segment.

The decision to expel Shiv Dev Singh for "anti-party activities" was made by Working President Satpal Sharma and General Secretary (Organization) Ashok Kaul, based on the recommendation of a disciplinary committee led by Sunil Sethi, according to a statement from the BJP.

The party confirmed that Singh's expulsion is effective immediately. Singh, who joined the BJP after leaving Congress in May 2022, has filed his nomination to contest against the party's official candidate, former minister Sham Lal Sharma, in the Jammu North assembly constituency.

He is one of 17 candidates vying for the seat, with the main competition expected to be between Sharma and National Conference candidate and former minister Ajay Kumar Sadhotra.