BJP Unveils Star Campaigner List for Jammu and Kashmir Assembly Elections

The BJP has announced its star campaigners for the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly Elections, taking place in three phases starting September 18. Notables such as PM Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah will participate. The party has also released a candidate list representing diverse communities.

On Monday, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) released its list of star campaigners for the forthcoming Assembly Elections in Jammu and Kashmir. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, BJP President JP Nadda, and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh are among the prominent names listed.

The list also features Union Minister Nitin Gadkari, Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Union Minister G Kishan Reddy, Minister of State Jitendra Singh, UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma, and Union Ministers Anurag Thakur and Smriti Irani, among others. Prior to this, the BJP had released its initial list of candidates for the elections.

This initial list consists of 15 candidates, with an emphasis on representing various communities and castes from both the Jammu and Kashmir regions. Recently, the party also announced its candidate for the Kokernag seat.

Insiders suggest the BJP aims to reflect the region's demographic diversity and enhance its community outreach. Leading the candidate list are Syed Showkat Gayoor Andrabi from Pampore, Arshid Bhat from Rajpora, Javed Ahmad Qadri from Shopian, Mohammad Rafiq Wani from Anantnag West, and Syed Wazahat from Anantnag. Veer Saraf will run from Shangus-Anantnag East.

Additional candidates include Sofi Yousuf for Srigufwara-Bijbehara, Tariq Keen for Inderwal, and Salim Bhat for Banihal. Shagun Parihar, the sole female candidate, will compete in Kishtwar. Furthermore, Sunil Sharma has been fielded from Padder-Nagseni, Daleep Singh Parihar from Bhadarwah, Gajay Singh Rana from Doda, Shakti Raj Parihar from Doda West, and Rakesh Thakur from Ramban.

Choudhary Roshan Hussain Gujjar is the candidate for Kokernag. The Election Commission has issued a notification for the first phase of the elections, covering 24 seats.

The Jammu and Kashmir Assembly elections are anticipated to be fiercely contested, marking the first since the abrogation of Article 370. In the recent Lok Sabha elections, the BJP secured both seats in Jammu, demonstrating strong regional support. The National Conference also won two seats.

Vote counting is scheduled for October 4.

(With inputs from agencies.)