The BJP on Monday afternoon released a revised list of candidates for the first phase of the Jammu & Kashmir legislative assembly elections. This list includes 15 candidates.
Earlier, on Monday morning at 10 AM, the BJP had released a list of 44 candidates for the J&K elections. However, this list was later retracted, and a new list with 15 names was issued for the first phase.
Sources indicate that several senior BJP leaders were unhappy with their exclusion from the initial list, necessitating the creation of a new one. Jammu & Kashmir elections will be conducted in three phases.
Former Deputy CM Denied Ticket
Several prominent BJP leaders from Jammu & Kashmir, including former Deputy CM and former Speaker of the J&K assembly, Dr. Nirmal Singh, were not given tickets in the earlier list. Dr. Singh had won from the Billawar assembly seat in 2014. Similarly, former Deputy CM Kavinder Gupta was also denied a ticket.
The previously released list included Central Minister Jitendra Singh's brother Devender Rana as the BJP candidate from Nagrota. Devender Rana had switched from the National Conference to join the BJP.
Two Kashmiri Pandits Given Tickets
In the old list, the BJP had nominated two Kashmiri Pandits for two seats in the Kashmir Valley. Vir Saraf was nominated from Shangus-Anantnag East and Ashok Bhatt from Habbakadal.
BJP Central Election Committee Meeting
The BJP's Central Election Committee convened a meeting in New Delhi on Sunday to discuss the Jammu & Kashmir legislative assembly elections. Key attendees included PM Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, and BJP National President JP Nadda among others. The meeting covered topics such as election strategy, candidate names, and PM Modi's prospective rallies in the state. Speculations were that BJP would announce the candidate names by Monday morning.
PM Modi's Rallies in Kashmir
Sources indicated that PM Narendra Modi would hold one to two rallies in Kashmir while conducting 8 to 10 rallies in Jammu. The Election Commission has announced election dates for the 90 assembly seats in Jammu & Kashmir. Voting will occur on September 18, September 25, and October 1 in three phases. The sensitive Union Territory will see results on October 4. Voting will take place for 24 seats in phase one, 26 seats in phase two, and 40 seats in phase three.
First Phase Voting Seats:
Pampore, Tral, Pulwama, Rajpora, Zainapora, Shopian, D.H. Pora, Kulgam, Devsar, Dooru, Kokernag (ST), Anantnag West, Anantnag, Srigufwara, Bijbehara, Shangus-Anantnag East, Pahalgam, Inderwal, Kishtwar, Padder, Nagseni, Bhaderwah, Doda, Doda West, Ramban, and Banihal.
Second Phase Voting Seats:
Kangan (ST), Ganderbal, Hazratbal, Khanyar, Habbakadal, Lal Chowk, Chanapora, Zadibal, Eidgah, Central Shalteng, Budgam, Beerwah, Khansahib, Chrar-e-Sharif, Chadoora, Gulabgarh (ST), Reasi, Shri Mata Vaishno Devi, Kalakote, Sunderbani, Nowshera, Rajouri (ST), Budhal (ST), Thanamandi (ST), Surankote (ST), Poonch Haveli, Mendhar (ST).
Third Phase Voting Seats:
Karnah, Trehgam, Kupwara, Lolab, Handwara, Langate, Sopore, Rafiabad, Uri, Baramulla, Gulmarg, Wagoora, Kreeri, Pattan, Sonawari, Bandipora, Gurez (ST), Udhampur West, Udhampur East, Chenani, Ramnagar (SC), Bani, Billawar, Basohli, Jasrota, Kathua (SC), Hiranagar, Ramgarh (SC), Samba, Vijaypur, Bishnah (SC), Suchetgarh (SC), R.S. Pura, Jammu South, Bahu, Jammu East, Nagrota, Jammu West.
