BJP rebel leader files nomination papers

Jammu, Sep 11: Jammu and Kashmir BJP vice president Pawan Khajuria filed his nomination papers as an independent candidate from Udhampur East assembly segment on Wednesday, amid brewing unrest in the party over the distribution of tickets.

Khajuria submitted his nomination papers at the end of his two-day ultimatum to the party leadership to change the official candidate and former MLA R S Pathania from the constituency alleging that he had campaigned against the party during Lok Sabha polls.

“I have served the party for 35 years and preferred it over everything else. The workers got dejected after the party decided to give the mandate to a person who indulged in anti-party activities so I responded to the call of the workers and jumped into the fray,” Khajuria said.