Facing terror threat, 60 Valley BJP leaders to fight as Independents

Dinesh Manhotra

Tribune News Service

Jammu, October 13

Notwithstanding the claims of BJP leaders to field candidates on 280 seats of the Block Development Council (BDC), 60 candidates in the Valley have preferred not to fight the elections on the party symbol due to terror threats.

On October 5, the BJP had announced to field candidates on 280 seats of the total 310 for which the elections will be held on October 24. The party had announced to support the Independents on remaining 30 seats across Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh divisions.

As per official data available, as of now of the total 137 BDC seats of Kashmir division, the BJP has fielded only 60 candidates who are fighting the elections on the party symbol.

“A large number of candidates have refused to contest the elections on the party symbol due to terror threats,” a senior BJP leader, wishing anonymity, told The Tribune. He revealed that of the 137 seats in the Kashmir valley, the BJPhad selected 120 candidates but only 60 had opted for contesting the elections on the party symbol.

Sources said after the candidates refused to contest on the BJP symbol, the party leadership had decided to allow the supporters to fight the elections as Independents. “The party high command has also given its consent to the Valley-based leaders to fight the BDC elections as Independents due to the threats,” a source said, adding, “After the elections, the Independents will rejoin the party.”

While as many BJP supporters are contesting the elections as Independents, the Congress, PDP and National Conference have fielded proxy candidates on most of the seats. Despite giving a boycott call, the leadership of these parties has not issued any direction to its cadre against participating in the polls.

As per the official record of Chief Electoral Officer of J&K, 27 candidates have won the elections uncontested. Now, the elections will be held on 283 BDC seats across Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh.