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The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is facing internal turmoil in Jammu and Kashmir as protests erupted over its candidate selection for the upcoming Assembly elections. The party's initial list of 44 candidates triggered widespread dissatisfaction among its members, leading to a revised list of 29 names. However, the discontent continues, with protests persisting even after the release of the second list.
The most recent and intense protests occurred in Reasi district when BJP workers expressed their anger over the denial of a ticket to Rohit Dubey, the party's district chief. Dubey was initially included in the first list of candidates for the newly-created Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Assembly constituency, but his name was replaced with former MLA Baldev Raj Sharma in the revised list. This decision sparked a furious reaction from Dubey's supporters.
On Wednesday, when BJP's J&K chief Ravinder Raina attempted to address the protesting workers, he was met with a barrage of slogans demanding an explanation for Dubey's exclusion. Despite Raina's attempts to pacify the crowd, emphasizing the party's commitment to its mission, he was repeatedly interrupted by the irate workers. The protests forced Raina to curtail his speech.
The tension surrounding Dubey's candidacy has further escalated as his supporters are now pushing him to run as an independent candidate. Meanwhile, Dubey himself has stated that he will respect the decision of the party workers, indicating a possible shift in his political allegiance. He expressed his confusion over the sudden removal of his name from the list, leaving the future of his candidacy uncertain.
These protests highlight the deep-seated discontent within the BJP ranks over the candidate selection process. While party leaders have attempted to calm the situation and maintain party unity, the ongoing protests suggest that the issue remains unresolved. The party's ability to manage this internal strife could have significant implications for its electoral prospects in Jammu and Kashmir.
The protests are not confined to Reasi district alone. In another incident, party workers in Chhamb constituency protested the nomination of former MLA Rajeev Sharma, arguing that a local face should have been selected instead. These protests reflect the widespread dissatisfaction among BJP members across various constituencies, further highlighting the challenges the party faces in its bid for power in Jammu and Kashmir.
Source: BJP’s J-K chief forced to cut address short as party workers protest denial of ticket