Jammu North BJP Workers Rally Behind Shamsher Singh, Oppose Sham Lal Sharma’s Candidacy. Ravinder Raina Attempts to Quell BJP Dissent Ahead of High Command Decision on J&K Candidates. BJP Faces Internal Turmoil in Jammu After Withdrawing Candidate List for J&K Assembly Elections.
Avinash Azad
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) finds itself in a challenging situation after withdrawing its initial list of candidates for the upcoming Jammu & Kashmir Assembly elections. Despite the retraction, the party is facing significant discontent across more than six seats in the Jammu district, with grassroots workers and leaders voicing their displeasure over the selection process.
In a break from the usual caste considerations that often dominate Indian electoral politics, BJP workers are rallying behind senior leaders who have shown longstanding dedication to the party. These workers believe that merit and loyalty should take precedence over other factors in candidate selection.
One of the most contentious seats is Jammu North, where a faction within the BJP is advocating for the candidacy of former state president and ex-Rajya Sabha MP Shamsher Singh. “Shamsher Singh is not my relative, and I am a Brahmin.
However, he has devoted his entire career to the party, standing firm for its cause when no one else would,” said Ved Parkash Sharma, a BJP leader with a long history of service in various capacities.
Sharma also criticized the decision to field former Congress leader Sham Lal Sharma from Jammu North, suggesting that Sham Lal should instead contest from his home constituency of Chamb, thereby preserving the candidacy for someone more deserving in Jammu North.
Another group of BJP workers’ has expressed strong opposition to Sham Lal Sharma’s candidacy, arguing that Omi Khajuria, a veteran BJP member with four decades of service, would be a more suitable choice. These disgruntled party members gathered at the Jammu office, demanding that Khajuria be nominated for the Jammu North constituency, even threatening mass resignations if their demands are not met.
Speaking to the media, Omi Khajuria voiced his frustration: “I have been working for the party for the last four decades, yet the ticket was given to Sham Lal Sharma, who only recently joined the BJP. I have spoken with state president Ravinder Raina and hope this ‘error’ will be rectified.”
The dissatisfaction is not confined to Jammu North. In the Akhnoor constituency, BJP workers are upset with the party’s decision to nominate former SSP Mohan Lal Bhagat, who recently took voluntary retirement and joined the BJP. Although the candidate list was withdrawn, Bhagat’s name had been included, sparking further controversy.
In Chamb, party workers are pushing for Narinder Singh Bhau, a local leader with deep roots in the community, as their preferred candidate. However, the party’s high command opted for Rajiv Sharma from Akhnoor, a decision that has not been well received.
“We are disappointed with the party’s decision. Nobody knows Rajiv Sharma, who was parachuted in as the candidate. Bhau has been working here for decades, and the local people will support him if he gets the party’s mandate. Otherwise, we will face defeat here,” warned Bhau’s supporters, who have accused the party of nepotism.
A similar scenario is unfolding in Ramgarh, a constituency in the Samba district, where local BJP workers are opposing the candidacy of Dr. Manyal, a former MLA and senior BJP leader. While they respect Dr. Manyal’s experience, they believe that Dr. Pankaj Kumar Bhagat, a local leader who has been tirelessly working for the party, would be a better fit.
“Dr. Manyal is a senior leader, and we respect him, but he is not accepted as the candidate for Ramgarh. Our local leader, Dr. Pankaj Kumar Bhagat, has been overlooked, and we oppose this decision. If the party high command remains adamant, the opposition will benefit from the resentment among party workers and leaders,” local BJP leaders stated.
The growing resentment against the selection of “outsider” candidates reached a boiling point at the BJP headquarters in Jammu, where leaders and workers from various constituencies gathered to express their dismay.
“The party high command is favoring outsiders over hardworking and loyal leaders who have been with the BJP for decades. This will not yield the favorable results the party is expecting in the assembly elections,” frustrated party leaders shouted at the party office, speaking to the media.
Ravinder Raina, the BJP’s state president and seems as the party’s ‘Sankatmochan’ in Jammu and Kashmir, attempted to pacify the agitated leaders. However, the final decision will be made by the party’s high command on August 28 in New Delhi. As the situation stands, the BJP must address these internal conflicts quickly if it hopes to maintain unity and secure success in the upcoming elections.
