BJP Scrambles for Damage Control in J&K Amid Ticket Controversy

The BJP initiated a damage control effort after Jammu and Kashmir party president Ravinder Raina was interrupted during his speech by angry workers demanding an explanation for replacing Rohit Dubey with Baldev Raj Sharma on the candidate list. Senior leaders showcased unity and commitment, but protests continued.

The BJP swiftly moved to contain the fallout after the Jammu and Kashmir state president, Ravinder Raina, faced an irate crowd of party workers during a speech. The workers were demanding clarification on why Rohit Dubey was replaced by former MLA Baldev Raj Sharma on the candidate list for the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi seat in Reasi district.

Dubey visited the party headquarters in Trikuta Nagar, Jammu, where he posed for photographs with Sharma and other senior leaders, a gesture the BJP framed as a show of unity within the party. Union Minister Jitendra Singh and other senior figures like Tarun Chugh and Jugal Kishore Sharma were among those present.

However, protests continued, including in the Chhamb constituency, where party workers voiced similar frustrations over candidate selections. The election for the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi seat is set for September 25, with the first phase commencing on September 18. The final phase will be held on October 1, with vote counting scheduled for October 4.