The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Jammu and Kashmir has plunged into turmoil following the resignation of senior leader Chander Mohan Sharma over what he calls "unjust" ticket distribution for the upcoming Assembly polls.
The internal rift comes despite the BJP's attempts to quell dissent after releasing its first list of candidates.
The ticket distribution controversy erupted after the BJP's central committee, headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Party President JP Nadda, announced its initial list of candidates for the Assembly elections.
The decision sparked protests from several party workers and senior leaders, including those within the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), who accused the party of sidelining deserving candidates.
Despite attempts to placate dissenters with a revised list of candidates, discontent within the party has continued to grow as elections near.
The situation reached a boiling point on Friday when Sharma, a veteran BJP leader and convener of the 'Tawi Andolan', announced his resignation and decision to run as an independent candidate in the Jammu East constituency.
“The distribution of mandates was unjust; there is deep resentment and anger among the party leadership and workers, which has led to these protests. I, along with other senior leaders, have resigned from the BJP over this,” Sharma told the media.
He criticised the party’s Jammu and Kashmir leadership for presenting a flawed proposal for candidate mandates to the central command.
Sharma, who has been associated with the party since the 1970s, hinted that he could reconsider his resignation if the party leadership reverses its decision regarding the Jammu East Assembly segment.
"We hope the party leadership accepts my resignation. However, if they reconsider their decision on the mandate change in the Jammu East Assembly segment, it is okay. Otherwise, I will heed the calls from workers who want me to contest independently," he stated.
The BJP is now grappling with a growing rebellion from within, with protests erupting in several districts of the Jammu division, including Jammu North, Paddar, Reasi, and Akhnoor.
Party leaders and workers have been lodging written complaints at the party headquarters, demanding a rethink on the candidate list.
In response to the unrest, the BJP has dispatched senior leaders, including Union ministers, to the region in an attempt to calm tensions.
However, Sharma’s resignation, along with threats from other leaders, signals that the party's troubles are far from over.
The veteran leader, who joined the Jan Sangh decades ago and endured several imprisonments as a BJP activist, expressed his dismay at being sidelined despite his seniority.
His resignation has amplified the voices of dissent within the party, as many believe the BJP's approach to candidate selection could cost it dearly in the upcoming polls.
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