J&K BJP core group to meet today to initiate ‘poll-talks’

Jammu, Oct 3: Taking a cue from hurly-burly in the rival camp, J&K Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is all set to galvanize its core group for initiating ground exercise to draw its stratagem and consider probable-candidates for upcoming biennial elections to four vacant seats of J&K in Rajya Sabha.

Getting its act together, the party’s core group is meeting tomorrow (Saturday, October 4, 2025) at the BJP headquarter at 10 am.

BJP national general secretary and in-charge J&K affairs, Tarun Chugh is to preside over the meeting.

J&K BJP Core Group includes (J&K) UT president Sat Sharma; Union Minister of State in PMO, Dr Jitendra Singh; MP Jugal Kishore Sharma; former Deputy Chief Minister Dr Nirmal Singh; UT general secretary (organisation) Ashok Koul; Leader of Opposition in J&K Legislature Sunil Sharma; MLA Dr Narinder Singh; former UT president Ravinder Raina and UT BJP general secretary Vibodh Gupta besides others.

Schedule of the proposed meeting, during the day, was confirmed by J&K BJP spokesperson Girdhari Lal Raina to news agencies and others. However, he maintained suspense over the agenda, stating that the Group would deliberate on various issues of importance, leaving ample scope for clear assumptions.

While Girdhari Lal Raina did not spell out beyond the meeting-schedule brief, other sources in the party pointed out that the agenda of meeting, though not revealed or specified yet, would be exhaustive, all encompassing – including deliberations on upcoming polls.

“Following the issuance of notification by the Election Commission of India (ECI) vis-à-vis schedule of biennial elections to four vacant seats in Rajya Sabha from Jammu and Kashmir, loud thinking vis-à-vis the probable candidates has already started in the party circles. So obviously, this will also be an important issue to ponder over in the core group meeting. But this will not be the only issue,” sources assert.

All-encompassing agenda will also border the critique of the performance of the elected-government, which is all set to complete its one-year in office later this month (October). The swearing-in ceremony of the elected government helmed by the Chief Minister Omar Abdullah had taken place on October 16, 2025.

“Review of flood-relief, rehabilitation programme pace; ensuing J&K Legislative Assembly session commencing from October 23, 2025, assembly by-polls to Budgam and Nagrota segments – there are issues of importance, aplenty. So, all these issues or some of them are likely to be on the table for discussion during the core group meeting,” sources explain.

One of the senior core group members, while responding to a query about Rajya Sabha biennial elections, stated, “See as far as Rajya Sabha (biennial) polls are concerned, much will depend on the number-game. The party will have to deliberate upon its strength with all permutations and combinations regarding fielding of candidates and other related aspects. How many seats it can win…can the party enter into a strategic arrangement with ‘others’ – all these prospects are to be deliberated. They may figure in tomorrow’s meeting or in the days to come.”

With regard to Budgam assembly by-poll, the party, as per sources, so far has not achieved any “significant breakthrough” vis-à-vis its prospects to contest.

“Nagrota assembly segment, yes, it has been our stronghold. We have won it in the previous contests and we will win it again,” senior core group member exudes confidence.

Any candidate finalised for Nagrota, in response to this question, the answer was on expected lines. “Yes, the names of many candidates are being speculated. J&K BJP will recommend the panel of candidates and final call will be taken by our central election committee.”

With regard to Rajya Sabha polls, several news reports are projecting the names of former Deputy Chief Minister Dr Nirmal Singh; former J&K BJP president Ravinder Raina, current J&K BJP president Sat Sharma besides a prominent woman leader from J&K unit as probable candidates.

When one of these projected (probable) candidates, who also wished not to be quoted, was contacted by Greater Kashmir to know about the veracity of these claims, his subtle response was, “Names are in circulation. But so far, it’s all in the realm of speculation. Things will mature only once a formal discussion takes place in the meeting and a call by the authorized body is taken. With in the party circles as well, when the process of loud thinking starts, this is but natural that few names find mention and then become part of news currency. Wait till the final call is taken by the party, it will come in public domain.”

Notably, Dr Nirmal Singh, former minister Sat Sharma and Kavinder Gupta were three major names of J&K BJP, who were not given mandate in 2024 assembly elections.

As disciplined soldiers, they submitted to the party command without any (at least visible in public) whimper. Former Deputy Chief Minister Kavinder Gupta has recently been appointed as the Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh.

Former J&K BJP president Ravinder Raina, though given mandate, yet lost in a difficult contest to National Conference’s Surinder Kumar Choudhary, presently the Deputy Chief Minister.

But the party managed to win 29 (now 28) seats – its highest ever number in J&K assembly elections under the command of Raina (as J&K BJP president).