A former bureaucrat from Jammu, charged in connection with a fake gun license scam, is reportedly stationed in New Delhi, seeking the Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) mandate to contest in the upcoming elections.
The seat in question was lost to a National Conference (NC) candidate in the 2014 elections by the BJP. In December last year, a CBI court in Jammu framed charges against the ex-official, accusing him of being part of a criminal conspiracy in 2013.
The scam involved issuing arms licenses for Rs 12,000 each, based on false and forged documents. The charges have cast a shadow over the former bureaucrat’s political aspirations, but this has not deterred him from pursuing a political comeback.
According to sources within the BJP, several “parachuted” leaders and former bureaucrats are eyeing the party’s mandate. This has reportedly caused discontent among the party’s long-standing cadre, who have dedicated decades to building the party from the ground up. A BJP leader, expressing the sentiments of the party workers, stated, “Many of us are unhappy with this move. The party high command is in a dilemma, especially after the influx of opposition leaders joining the BJP in 2019.”
The ex-bureaucrat, once affiliated with the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), is working tirelessly to secure the BJP high command’s endorsement. However, after receiving a cold response from the state leadership, he has now shifted his focus to New Delhi in hopes of garnering support from the central leadership.
“The upcoming assembly elections are the right time for the party command to reward its loyal workers, who have stood firmly by the party through challenging times and played a crucial role in its growth,” the BJP leader added.
As the party gears up for the elections, the decision to choose between seasoned cadre members and newcomers with controversial backgrounds will be a critical test for the BJP’s leadership. It is pertinent to mention here that the opposition has frequently labeled the BJP as a “washing machine,” claiming that it serves as a refuge for corrupt politicians and bureaucrats seeking to cleanse their past wrongdoings.
