Jammu And Kashmir Assembly Elections: BJP's Revised List Sparks Protests From Supporters Of 'Snubbed' Leaders

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders and workers in Jammu staged protests on Monday following the release and quick withdrawal of the first list of 44 candidates for the upcoming Jammu and Kashmir assembly polls. The party had inadvertently included candidates for all phases of the election, leading to the list being retracted.

The party subsequently released two new lists: one with 15 candidates (eight from the Jammu region and seven from the Kashmir Valley) and another with a single name, Choudhary Roshan Hussain Gujjar for the Kokernag constituency.

The initial list had caused dissatisfaction as it dropped several senior leaders, including former deputy chief minister Nirmal Singh and former ministers Sat Paul Sharma, Priya Sethi, and Sham Lal Choudhary, reported Hindustan Times.

According to ANI, Jagdish Bhagat, former president of SC Morcha, expressed frustration, saying, "I have been working for the party for the last 18 years and was expecting a ticket, but the list of 44 candidates showed the party has chosen retired police officer Mohan Lal Bhagat, who joined BJP just two days ago. I have worked tirelessly to bring people into the party fold."

Protests also erupted over the exclusion of Omi Khajuria from the Jammu North constituency, where the BJP had fielded former Congress leader Sham Lal Sharma instead.

Paresh Kumar Sharma, a BJP worker, told PTI, "We have been associated with the BJP since we became voters. The party has overlooked Omi Khajuria, a popular leader in Jammu North and chosen Sham Lal Sharma, who recently joined from Congress. The first list of 44 candidates was withdrawn just to pacify public anger, but the party will repeat the same candidates."

Some workers even threatened to act as rebels in the elections, which start on September 18, warning that their votes might go against the party and weaken its position.

In response to the unrest, Ravinder Raina, president of the BJP's Jammu and Kashmir unit, assured that he would have one-on-one conversations with the concerned members, stating, "Every problem can be resolved through dialogue. Order and patriotism are the hallmarks of BJP workers. I hope every member will uphold the decorum."

The assembly elections will be held in three phases: September 18, September 25, and October 1.