News Mania Desk/Agnibeena Ghosh/26th August 2024
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Jammu and Kashmir is grappling with internal dissent following its inconsistent approach to selecting candidates for the upcoming assembly elections. Protests erupted outside the party’s Jammu office on Monday after the BJP released a revised list of 15 candidates for the first phase of the elections, having previously withdrawn an earlier list of 44 candidates just hours after its announcement.
This sudden flip-flop by the BJP has sparked discontent among its long-standing party workers, many of whom feel sidelined in favor of newcomers. A notable instance of this unrest centers around Omi Khajuria, a well-known figure in Jammu North, whose supporters are outraged by the decision to overlook him in favor of a candidate who recently defected from the Congress party. One protester expressed frustration, stating, “We have supported the BJP since we became voters, but now they are ignoring loyal workers like Omi Khajuria. The ticket has been given to someone from Congress, and this is unfair.”
The discontent doesn’t stop there. Another candidate, Shyam Lal Sharma, who received a ticket, has also been met with resistance from party members who argue that he is not well-known in the constituency. These dissatisfied party workers are threatening to resign en masse if the party leadership does not reconsider its decision. “Those who have been working with honesty should get the ticket,” the protester added, emphasizing the need for the party to reward loyalty and hard work.
The initial candidate list, which was withdrawn, included names like Syed Wazahat for Anantnag, Gajay Singh Rana for Doda, and Javed Ahmad Qadri for Shopian. Other candidates included Syed Showkat Gayoor Andrabi from Pampore, Arshid Bhat from Rajpora, Mohd. Rafiq Wani from Anantnag West, and Sushri Shagun Parihar from Kishtwar. The retraction of this list and the subsequent release of a shorter list have only fueled the sense of uncertainty and dissatisfaction within the party ranks.
The assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir are scheduled to occur in three phases on September 18, September 25, and October 1. Candidates have until August 27 to file their nomination papers for the first phase, with vote counting set to take place on October 4. The elections are a critical moment for the region, especially since the BJP has decided to contest independently, without forming alliances. This decision marks a significant shift from the previous assembly elections in 2014, where the BJP secured 25 seats, a notable achievement in the region.
Meanwhile, the Congress party has joined forces with Farooq Abdullah’s National Conference, and Mehbooba Mufti’s People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has pledged support to this alliance, creating a formidable opposition. As the BJP faces this internal turmoil, it remains to be seen how the party will navigate the challenges leading up to the elections. The dissatisfaction within its ranks, coupled with the pressure from the opposition alliance, could impact the party’s performance in the polls.
The ongoing protests highlight a crucial moment for the BJP’s leadership in Jammu and Kashmir. How the party addresses these grievances will play a significant role in shaping its prospects in the upcoming elections.
