BJP Leader Resigns Over Ticket Distribution Row Ahead of J-K Assembly Polls

BJP Samba District President Kashmira Singh resigns from all posts and party membership citing unfair ticket distribution and ideological differences. Singh criticizes state president Ravinder Raina and accuses the party of sidelining loyal workers in favor of outsiders. Assembly elections are set for September 18, 25, and October 1.

BJP Samba District President Kashmira Singh has stepped down from all party positions and terminated his membership, citing dissatisfaction with the ticket distribution process ahead of the upcoming Jammu and Kashmir assembly elections. Singh made the announcement during a press conference held in Samba on Friday.

During the event, Singh leveled serious allegations against the party's state president, Ravinder Raina, accusing him of attempting to incorporate Sheikh Abdullah's ideology into the BJP, which Singh and other long-time party members find unacceptable. Singh, who has been with the party since its struggle days, said he could no longer tolerate the direction the party was heading.

'We have worked selflessly for the party for 40 to 42 years. Today, after 30 years, the Samba Assembly constituency has been opened for the general category, and they have given the mandate to Surjit Singh Salathia, who has come from the National Conference. We do not accept this decision,' Singh lamented. He expressed his sadness over the exclusion of long-time workers from the ticket distribution process, stressing that outsiders and former opponents are now being favored. Singh added that local workers who have stayed loyal to the party for years should have been considered instead of outsiders.

Singh also critiqued the party's history of favoring outsiders for electoral tickets since 1996. He pointed out that in 1996, Babu Parmanand was fielded; in 2008, Satwant Kaur was defeated in assembly elections; in 2014, Dr. Davinder Kumar Manyal was given a ticket after leaving his health department job. Now, in 2024, Surjit Singh Salathia, who switched from the National Conference, has received the party's backing. Singh questioned how long this pattern would continue, stating that it was the primary reason for his resignation.

The assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir will be conducted in three phases on September 18, 25, and October 1. The National Conference will contest 51 of 90 seats, and Congress will vie for 32 seats, based on a seat-sharing agreement. Both parties will also face off in five constituencies and have allocated one seat each to CPI(M) and Panthers Party. There are a total of 90 assembly constituencies, with 7 seats reserved for SCs and 9 for STs. According to the Election Commission of India, Jammu and Kashmir has 88.06 lakh eligible electors. These will be the first assembly elections held in Kashmir following the abrogation of Article 370.

(With inputs from agencies.)