Sat Sharma Appointed J&K BJP Working President, Nirmal Singh to Head Election Campaign Committee

Srinagar: Ahead of the upcoming elections in Jammu and Kashmir, the Bharatiya Janata Party ( BJP ) has appointed Sat Sharma as the new Working President of the poll-bound UT.  Former Deputy Chief Minister Nirmal Singh has been entrusted with the responsibility of heading the BJP 's Election Campaign Committee, a crucial role that will oversee the party's preparations and strategies for the electoral battle.

Chaudhary Sukhnandan has been named Vice President of the Election Campaign Committee, bringing his extensive grassroots experience into the fold. His role will be vital in driving outreach efforts and connecting with the electorate. In addition, Kavinder Gupta, a former deputy chief minister, has been appointed as the head of the Election Management Committee. 

This comes a day after the Bharatiya Janata Party ( BJP ) released its sixth list of candidates for the upcoming Jammu and Kashmir assembly elections. The list includes 10 candidates, with former legislator R S Pathania contesting from Udhampur East and Bandipora district president Naseer Ahmad Lone running in his home constituency. However, former deputy chief minister Kavinder Gupta was dropped from the Bahu seat. So far, the BJP has named candidates for 59 constituencies in the 90-member assembly. Of the total seats, the BJP plans to contest 67.

The assembly elections, the first in a decade, will take place in three phases. The first phase, on September 18, will cover 24 seats. The second phase, on September 25, will focus on 26 seats. The final phase, scheduled for October 1, will cover 40 seats. These elections are also significant as they are the first in the region since the revocation of Article 370 which granted special status to valley and statehood five years ago.

In its election manifesto, the BJP has laid out a series of welfare initiatives, including plans to improve infrastructure in the region. Their platform centers on developmental promises and welfare outreach, setting it apart from opposition parties like the National Conference, which is focusing on identity-related issues and the restoration of Article 370.

The BJP has a strong base in the Hindu-majority Jammu region, which has 43 seats in the assembly. However, the party has historically struggled to gain traction in Kashmir, where it has never won an assembly or Lok Sabha seat. In the Kashmir Valley, which accounts for 47 seats, the BJP plans to contest only 24 seats, while supporting independent candidates and allies for the remaining seats.