Chander Mohan Sharma Quits BJP Over Ticket Row, Eyes Independent Run in Jammu East
JAMMU, Aug 30: In a significant development within the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Jammu and Kashmir, senior party leader and one of its founding members in the region, Chander Mohan Sharma, announced his resignation from the party. Sharma’s decision comes amidst growing dissatisfaction within the BJP ranks over the distribution of tickets for the upcoming Assembly elections. This internal strife has led to protests by party leaders and workers across several districts in the Jammu region.
Chander Mohan Sharma, an advocate by profession who has been with the BJP since the early 1970s, openly criticized the party’s leadership in Jammu and Kashmir. He accused them of failing to properly present the proposal for candidate mandates to the party’s High Command, resulting in what he perceives as an unjust distribution of tickets. Sharma expressed his frustration at being overlooked despite his longstanding contributions to the party, including his involvement in the Jan Sangh and the multiple imprisonments he faced as a BJP activist.
Speaking to reporters, Sharma stated, “I hope the party leadership accepts my resignation. However, if they reconsider their decision on the mandate for the Jammu East Assembly segment, that would be acceptable. Otherwise, I am prepared to heed the calls from my supporters who are urging me to contest as an Independent candidate from the Jammu East seat.” He emphasized the strong support he enjoys in the Jammu East constituency, particularly among those who worked alongside him during the Tawi Andolan movement. Sharma also pointed out that the responsibility now lies with the senior BJP leaders currently stationed in the region to address the situation.
Sharma did not hold back in his criticism of the party’s current trajectory, accusing the BJP leadership of undermining the pro-BJP wave in Jammu and Kashmir through their mishandling of ticket distribution. He argued that the party has strayed from its core agenda and that personal preferences have been the primary factor in the allocation of tickets, causing distress and disillusionment among party members. Sharma’s resignation was accompanied by the departure of several of his supporters, including Balwinder Singh Bhatia, the co-convener of the BJP’s Namami Ganga Department and a member of the party’s district unit.
This development highlights the growing tensions within the BJP in Jammu and Kashmir as the party faces increasing internal challenges in the lead-up to the Assembly elections. Sharma’s potential candidacy as an Independent could further complicate the electoral landscape in the Jammu East constituency, where his long-standing influence and support base may pose a significant challenge to the BJP’s official candidate.
