New Delhi: BJP leaders and supporters in Jammu staged a protest on Monday after the partys initial candidate list for the Jammu and Kashmir elections was released and then quickly withdrawn.Following the release of two updated lists, featuring 15 additional candidates, eight hailing from Jammu and seven from the Kashmir Valley, as well as a solo nomination for Choudhary Roshan Hussain Gujjar in the Kokernag constituency, a group of disgruntled BJP leaders assembled at the partys Jammu office to formally express their objections. Veteran leaders excludedThe initial list, which was later retracted, had notably omitted several veteran leaders, including Nirmal Singh, a former deputy chief minister, as well as erstwhile ministers Sat Paul Sharma, Priya Sethi and Sham Lal Choudhary, sparking widespread surprise and discontent.According to sources, the list was retracted due to a procedural error, where the party inadvertently released names of candidates for all three phases, whereas only the first phase nominees were intended for public disclosure.Jagdish Bhagat shows disappointmentJagdish Bhagat, former president of SC Morcha, expressed his disappointment 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.”#WATCH | Jagdish Bhagat, President BJP J&K SC Morcha, says ...I have been working all day for BJP for the last 18 years but today injustice has been done to me. SSP Mohan Lal joined BJP 2 days ago and he was given a mandate. If this mandate is not hanged, BJP will have to face… pic.twitter.com/8oC1smMBx4— ANI (@ANI) August 26, 2024Protesters demand Khajuria for Jammu northA group of protesters gathered at the BJP office, demanding that Omi Khajuria be given the ticket for the Jammu North constituency. Their discontent stemmed from the initial list, which had nominated former Congress leader Sham Lal Sharma for the seat, instead of Khajuria. Paresh Kumar Sharma, a BJP worker, expressed his discontent saying, “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 The first list of 44 candidates was withdrawn just to pacify public anger, but the party will repeat the same candidates.”Some BJP workers went a step further, threatening to rebel against the party in the upcoming polls starting September 18. They warned that they would cast their votes against the party, potentially weakening its chances and causing significant damage to its electoral prospects.#WATCH | Jammu, J&K: Supporters of BJP leaders who did not get a ticket to contest in J&K Assembly elections reach BJP Office in Jammu, demanding a ticket for their candidate. pic.twitter.com/tbZo7bVfA3— ANI (@ANI) August 26, 2024What did Ravinder Raina tell angry party workersIn response to the grievances expressed by disgruntled workers and leaders, Ravinder Raina, president of the BJPs Jammu and Kashmir unit, assured that he would engage in individual discussions with each of them. He stated:“Every problem can be resolved through dialogue. Order and patriotism are the hallmarks of BJP workers. I hope every member will uphold the decorum.”Rainas comments aimed to address the unrest within the party, as the region prepares for the upcoming polls, scheduled to take place in three phases, September 18, September 25 and October 1.
