Sunil Sharma elected as J&K BJP’s legislature party leader

Srinagar, Nov 3: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Sunday appointed Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA) Sunil Sharma as the Leader of BJP’s Legislature Party in Jammu and Kashmir, positioning him as the Leader of the Opposition in the J&K Legislative Assembly.

Presided over by Union Minister for New and Renewable Energy, Prahlad Joshi, and BJP National General Secretary Tarun Chugh – who oversees Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh and served as the national observer for this session - the meeting underscored the party’s strategic direction in J&K.

Ravinder Raina, the outgoing J&K unit president of BJP was also present during the meeting.

Sharma, a two-time MLA from the Kishtwar district, was unanimously chosen for the role, following the recent passing of MLA Devender Singh Rana from Nagrota.

Rana’s unexpected death in a Faridabad hospital on Thursday prompted condolences from various political leaders, recognising his contributions to the party and J&K.

As the new opposition leader, Sharma will be tasked with energising the BJP’s presence in the assembly and serving as a strong counterbalance to the ruling government.

This appointment is seen as significant for the BJP, which is looking to solidify its influence in J&K amid ongoing political shifts.

In addition to Sharma’s election, the BJP appointed Narinder Singh Raina as Deputy Leader of the Opposition.

The upcoming session, set to begin on Monday, marks the first assembly meeting in J&K in six years, with Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha slated to deliver the opening address.

Sunil Sharma, 47, won a second term by a narrow margin from the newly-created Padder-Nagseni constituency, established after the 2022 delimitation.

Running against National Conference’s Pooja Thakur, a sitting chairperson of the District Development Council (DDC) Kishtwar, Sharma secured the victory with a lead of 1546 votes.

A former Minister of State for Science and Technology and Transport with independent charge, Sharma previously represented the Kishtwar constituency in the 2014 assembly.

Known for his connection to the BJP’s central leadership, he played an instrumental role in the party’s growth in J&K, particularly after the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019.

His campaign received high-profile support, including from Union Home Minister Amit Shah, who urged voters to support Sharma as a crucial figure in the assembly.

According to his affidavit, Sharma’s net worth totals Rs 3.7 crore, including Rs 68.7 lakh in movable assets and Rs 3 crore in immovable property, with liabilities amounting to Rs 3.1 lakh.

In another significant move, the BJP announced that Narinder Singh Raina would be their candidate for Deputy Speaker in the Legislative Assembly.

Addressing the attendees, Union Minister Prahlad Joshi emphasised the importance of unity and purpose in the party’s objectives, while BJP National General Secretary Tarun Chugh underscored the significance of the upcoming sessions in shaping J&K’s development trajectory.

Addressing the media, Prahlad Joshi said, the Legislative Party members have unanimously elected Sunil Sharma as the Leader of the Opposition for the J&K Kashmir Assembly.

“We are committed to being a constructive opposition, addressing public issues and contributing to the vision of a Viksit Bharat under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi,” he said.