Rebel BJP Leader Chander Mohan Sharma Announces Independent Run in Jammu East

With the J&K elections drawing near, the internal rift within the BJP is showing no signs of ending. Party veteran Chander Mohan Sharma who recently resigned from the BJP has announced that he would contest as an Independent from Jammu East constituency. Sharma resigned from the BJP after accusing the party of unfair ticket distribution. The BJP allocated ticket to Yudhvir Sethi from Jammu East which infuriated Sharma. In a statement, Sharma said that he had received “tremendous response” on his decision from the general voters of Jammu East constituency.

“There is a total disapproval of the National Conference-Congress alliance but at the same time, voters are disappointed with the selection of candidates by the BJP,” said Sharma.

Resigning from the BJP as a sign of protest, he said, “I have firmly decided to contest the election as an Independent with an unparalleled track record of selfless service”.

Listening to the demand of various OBC groups, he said, “I don’t see why scholarship is being denied to the students of OBC communities. I remember a public meeting addressed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi that the biggest victims of Article 370 were the OBC communities, and after elections, their grievances will be redressed”.

He said that he held J&K leadership of BJP responsible for not projecting the demands of OBC communities. “BJP leaders here have ignored the burning issues like widow pensions, smart meters, electricity interruptions among other problems,” he said. Meanwhile, the BJP has expelled party’s district vice-president of Ramban district, Suraj Singh Parihar, for anti-party activities. “The action was taken today by BJP J&K UT president Ravinder Raina on the recommendations of the disciplinary committee,” a statement by the party said.