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The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Jammu and Kashmir is experiencing internal turmoil as the upcoming assembly elections approach, with two prominent leaders resigning in protest against the party's ticket distribution. The resignations highlight growing discontent within the party's ranks, potentially jeopardizing its electoral prospects in the region.
Kashmir Singh, a veteran BJP leader with four decades of service and the Samba district president, announced his resignation from the party's primary membership on Saturday. Singh expressed strong disapproval of the party's decision to nominate Surjit Singh Slathia, a former Congress-NC coalition minister, as a candidate for the upcoming election. Slathia, who joined the BJP in 2021 after previously serving in the National Conference (NC), has been a controversial figure within the party. Singh argued that nominating Slathia, who previously opposed the BJP's ideology and the revocation of Article 370, was a betrayal of the party's core principles and unfair to its dedicated grassroots workers.
In his resignation letter addressed to J&K BJP chief Ravinder Raina, Singh stated his willingness to reconsider his decision if the party revoked Slathia's nomination. He urged the BJP to replace Slathia with a senior party member, threatening to contest the election as an independent candidate if his request was ignored. Singh's actions underscore the depth of his frustration and the seriousness of the internal conflict within the BJP.
Adding to the party's woes, Kanav Sharma, the Jammu District President of the Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM), resigned from his position in protest against the party's decision to allocate a ticket to Yudhvir Sethi for the Jammu East constituency. Sharma, a third-generation member of his family committed to the BJP's ideology, expressed his disapproval of Sethi's candidacy, citing allegations of corruption during Sethi's wife Priya Sethi's tenure as education minister. Sharma stated that the party's choice conflicted with his principles and that he could not, in good conscience, continue in his role. He further announced the dissolution of his team, signifying a significant withdrawal from active involvement within the BJYM.
These resignations are not isolated incidents but reflect a broader wave of dissatisfaction within the BJP's ranks, particularly concerning ticket distribution in several key constituencies. Reports indicate widespread unrest among party workers in areas like Jammu North, Jammu East, Paddar, Ramban, Shri Mata Vaishno Devi, Chhamb, and Akhnoor. This internal strife poses a significant challenge to the BJP's electoral strategy in these regions. The party's ability to manage these internal conflicts and present a unified front will be crucial for its success in the upcoming assembly elections.
Source: J&K Assembly Elections 2024: BJP Faces Turmoil As Two More Leaders Resign Over Ticket Distribution