Infighting comes to fore after saffron party releases first list

Jammu, August 26

Soon after it released the first list of candidates for Jammu and Kashmir Assembly elections, the BJP had to face severe infighting leading to protest demonstration at the party headquarters in Jammu.

BJP UT chief Ravinder Raina met senior leaders to pacify them. Besides, the party had to withdraw its first list of 44 candidates. The initial list did not include some of the senior leaders, including former deputy chief ministers, which triggered resentment among the party workers.

Local leaders had also criticised the allocation of tickets to turncoats, who recently came from other political parties to join the BJP.

Protesters also raised questions over allocating Akhnoor seat to former SSP Mohan Lal Bhagat, who recently took voluntary retirement from the Police Department. Meanwhile, former deputy CMs Nirmal Singh and Kavinder Gupta’s names were also missing from the list.

The now withdrawn list also figured the name of Chowdhary Zulfikar Ali from Budhal, who recently joined the BJP after quitting the Apni Party. It further named Chowdhary Abdul Gani, who switched from the Congress to the saffron party, from the Poonch Haveli constituency. Murtaza Khan, who was previously associated with the PDP and recently joined the BJP, was named from Mendhar in Poonch. The inclusion of these names infuriated the local BJP cadre of the Jammu region.

The disgruntled party workers entered the office at Trikuta Nagar and started raising slogans in favour of their leaders who were denied ticket in the first list.

Sensing trouble, BJP UT chief Ravinder Raina rushed to the party office and met the senior leaders. “I assure you that I will talk to the leaders and workers in a one-to-one meeting and listen to their grievances. There are former deputy CMs and ex-ministers (who have issues with the list) and if there is any anger or discontentment, it will be resolved,” he said.

He went on to say, “The BJP is like a family and a family has to live together with discipline. It is a part of the identity of BJP workers. I urge them to have patience,” he said. He further assured party leaders and workers that he would resolve their grievances as it was his duty.

Jagdish Bhagat, who is associated with the SC Morcha of the party, was also among the group that protested at the BJP office.

Referring to the now withdrawn list, Bhagat said he had been working for the party for the past 18 years, but was not allocated any ticket from the SC reserved seats.

Chance to turncoats angers loyalists

• As per the now withdrawn list, BJP had allocated Budhal seat to Chowdhary Zulfikar Ali, who recently joined BJP after quitting Apni Party.
• It also named Chowdhary Abdul Gani, who switched from the Congress to the saffron party, from Poonch Haveli constituency.
• Murtaza Khan, who was previously associated with the PDP, was named from Mendhar in Poonch.
• The inclusion of these names infuriated the local BJP cadre of the Jammu region.
• Protesters also raised questions over allocating Akhnoor seat to former SSP Mohan Lal Bhagat, who recently took voluntary retirement.