Jammu, Aug 31 (UNI) Demanding a local representative, hundreds of supporters and workers of the Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) staged a protest over the announcement of a candidate for the Chhamb Assembly segment for the forthcoming three-phase Assembly elections.
Shouting slogans, the BJP supporters staged a protest in Khour Block demanding a local candidate from the Chhamb Assembly Constituency; otherwise, they will press ‘None of the Above’ (NOTA) on the polling day.
Many BJP workers threatened to act as rebels in the polls, warning that their votes would undermine the party and weaken its position.
The workers were protesting the party’s decision to drop preferred leaders and award tickets to the local representatives.
“We have given the option to the party; now the ball is in their court, and it is up to them to decide whether they give our constituency a local candidate or compel us to press NOTA,” said the local BJP leaders.
The BJP has announced Rajeev Sharma as its candidate from the Chhamb Assembly Segment.
Carrying placards, “Bahar Ka Pratyashi Nahi Chalega” (outside candidate is not acceptable), “Chhamb Ki Janata Ki Awaz, Local Pratyashi” (local candidate is the voice of Chhamb people), and “Hum Kya Chahte, Local Pratyashi” (we want local representative), hundreds of people from Khour block took out a protest march.
The protestors, including women, demanded that they will accept any of the BJP candidates, but he must be a local (from Chhamb Constituency), adding, “We will support only a local candidate, and if the party fails to change the announced candidate, we will not vote in its favour and opt for NOTA.”
The women leaders from the party, expressing resentment, stated that they are upset with the decision on ticket distribution, and if the local candidate will not given the mandate, they will not be supporting an outsider candidate from the party.
Notably, on Friday, senior party leader and one of its founder members in Jammu and Kashmir, Chander Mohan Sharma, resigned from the party over ticket distribution for the Assembly elections and threatened to contest the Assembly poll from Jammu East as an independent candidate.
However, on August 28, angry BJP workers also protested over the denial of tickets to Reasi district president Rohit Dubey from the newly-created Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Assembly constituency.
The name of Dubey in the earlier list featured and was replaced by former MLA Baldev Raj Sharma in the fresh list announced a few hours later.
The Election Commission has announced three-phase Assembly elections to be held on September 18, September 25, and October 1.
Jammu district will go to polls in the last phase. The counting will be held on October 4.
