J&K BJP chief Raina to contest from Nowshera

Srinagar, Sep 02: As the Jammu and Kashmir assembly elections draw near, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Monday announced its fourth list of candidates.

The list, approved by the BJP’s Central Election Committee (CEC), features six candidates including the nomination of the BJP’s J&K unit president, Ravinder Raina from the Nowshera constituency in Rajouri district of Pir Panjal region.

Raina won from Nowshera in the 2014 assembly polls.

His re-nomination is seen as a strategic move to maintain the party's stronghold in the area, where Raina has established significant influence.

In addition to Raina, BJP has fielded former MLC Vibodh Gupta from Rajouri (ST), reflecting the party’s focus on consolidating its base among the Scheduled Tribes.

Kashmir Valley, where BJP is yet to secure an assembly seat, sees the party nominating Aijaiz Hussain from Lal Chowk, Arif Raja from Eidgah, Ali Muhammad Mir from Khan Sahab, and Zahid Hussain from Charar-e-Sharief.

These assembly elections, scheduled to take place in three phases on September 18, 25, and October 1, are the first since the abrogation of Article 370 in August 2019.

The BJP’s electoral performance in politically sensitive J&K will be closely watched, particularly in Kashmir, where the party has faced significant challenges in garnering support.

The 90-member assembly will see a fierce contest as various political parties including the National Conference (NC), Congress, and People’s Democratic Party (PDP), vie for control.

The BJP’s push in Kashmir, where it has historically struggled, is seen as a crucial test of its post-Article 370 strategy and its broader goal of expanding its political footprint in Kashmir.

The inclusion of four candidates from Kashmir in the latest list signals the BJP’s intent to make inroads in Kashmir.

The party's leadership has been vocal about its commitment to development and security in J&K, positioning itself as a force for change in Kashmir.

Aijaiz Hussain, Arif Raja, Ali Muhammad Mir, and Zahid Hussain have been tasked with challenging the entrenched regional parties in some of the Valley's key constituencies.

Lal Chowk and Eidgah, in particular, are seen as symbolic battlegrounds where the BJP hopes to break new ground.

Despite the BJP’s robust campaign, the party faces significant challenges, particularly in Kashmir.

As the countdown to the elections begins, all eyes will be on how the BJP’s candidates fare in this critical and closely watched contest, particularly in Kashmir where the party's efforts to open its account will be closely scrutinised.

The outcome of these elections will have far-reaching implications on the political future of J&K.