The Jammu and Kashmir assembly elections are approaching, and the BJP has announced its first list of candidates. This election will be the first in the region since the abrogation of Article 370. The BJP’s list includes 44 candidates for three phases: 15 for the first phase, 10 for the second, and 19 for the third.
Former Deputy Chief Minister Nirmal Singh is not on the list, despite his previous success in the Bilawar assembly seat in 2014. Former Deputy Chief Minister Kavinder Gupta also did not receive a ticket, but there is speculation he may be included in a future list. State BJP President Ravindra Raina is also missing from this announcement.
The BJP’s central election committee met for about an hour and a half last night at the party headquarters in Delhi. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, and BJP National President J.P. Nadda attended the meeting, focusing solely on the Jammu and Kashmir elections and discussing candidate nominations.
The assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir will be held for the first time since the abrogation of Article 370. Voting will be conducted in three phases, starting on September 18, with a total of 90 seats. Haryana will hold its assembly elections in a single phase on October 1.