New Delhi: In the politically charged landscape of Jammu and Kashmir, preparations for the upcoming assembly elections have intensified, with all major parties gearing up for what promises to be a crucial electoral battle. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) took a significant step forward today, releasing its third list of candidates, despite facing internal dissent and public scrutiny over previous announcements.
This latest list unveils the names of 29 candidates, carefully selected to contest in the second and third phases of the election. Specifically, the list includes 10 candidates for the second phase, where voting will occur in 26 constituencies, and 19 candidates for the third phase, covering 40 constituencies.
The BJP’s candidate selection process in Jammu and Kashmir has been anything but smooth. The party previously released three separate lists on August 26, comprising a total of 44 names. However, the initial list sparked significant opposition, both within the party and from various factions in the region. In response to this backlash, the BJP revised the list, ultimately announcing 15 additional names and even making a subsequent adjustment to include another candidate.
Today’s list reflects the BJP’s attempt to balance these internal tensions. Notably, 28 candidates from the previous list have been retained, signaling the party’s confidence in their selection. However, in a move that underscores the ongoing controversy, the BJP has replaced Rohit Dubey with Baldev Raj Sharma as the candidate for the Vaishno Devi seat, responding to local pressures and discontent.
Second Phase Candidates:
The second phase of the election, which will see voting across 26 seats, features 10 candidates from the BJP’s latest list. These include Ashok Bhatt from Habbakadal, Mohammad Akram Chaudhary from Gulabgarh, Kuldeep Raj from Reasi, Baldev Raj Sharma from Shri Mata Vaishno Devi (replacing Rohit Dubey), Thakur Randhir Singh from Kalakot-Sunderbani, Chaudhary Zulfiqar Ali from Budhal, Mohammad Iqbal Malik from Thannamandi, Syed Mushtaq Ahmed Bukhari from Surankote, Chaudhary Abdul Ghani from Poonch Haveli, and Murtaza Khan from Mendhar.
Third Phase Candidates:
For the third phase, involving 40 constituencies, the BJP has named 19 candidates. These include prominent figures such as Pawan Gupta from Udhampur West, Balwant Singh Mankotia from Chinani, Sunil Bhardwaj from Ramnagar, Jeevan Lal from Bani, Satish Sharma from Billawar, Darshan Singh from Basohli, Rajiv Jasrotia from Jasrota, Advocate Vijay Kumar Sharma from Hiranagar, Dr. Devinder Kumar Maniyal from Ramgarh, Surjeet Singh Salathia from Samba, Chandra Prakash Ganga from Vijaypur, Ghaaru Ram Bhagat from Suchetgarh, Dr. Narinder Singh Raina from RS Pura Jammu South, Yudhvir Sethi from Jammu East, Dr. Devinder Singh Rana from Nagrota, Arvind Gupta from Jammu West, Sham Lal Sharma from Jammu North, Mohan Lal Bhagat from Akhnoor, and Rajiv Sharma from Chamb.
The BJP’s strategic maneuvers in the release of this list underscore the complexities of navigating regional politics in Jammu and Kashmir, where local allegiances and communal sensitivities often play a pivotal role in electoral success. As the election date approaches, the party’s ability to manage these challenges will be critical in determining its prospects in this crucial assembly poll.
