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The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is facing a brewing internal crisis in Jammu and Kashmir, with party members expressing their discontent over the selection of candidates for the upcoming assembly elections. The situation escalated when Rohit Dubey, a potential candidate for the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi constituency, was replaced by former MLA Baldev Raj Sharma, triggering an open revolt from Dubey’s supporters.
Dubey’s supporters, including Ritu Thakur, threatened to resign from the BJP en masse and pledged to ensure the defeat of the BJP candidate in the Vaishno Devi seat. They expressed their frustration and anger, highlighting their dedication to the party and their belief that Dubey was a more suitable candidate. The protests, which included slogans against the BJP and calls for the reversal of the decision, unfolded at Katra’s main chowk, signifying the gravity of the situation.
Local BJP unit chief Ravinder Raina was dispatched to Katra to pacify the protesters and address their concerns. While acknowledging the dissent, Raina attempted to diffuse the situation by emphasizing the party’s unity and reaffirming the importance of the “nation first” principle. He met with Dubey and assured him that the matter would be reviewed. Dubey, in turn, appealed to his supporters to temporarily suspend their protests, citing the party’s support and the upcoming meeting with the party president in Jammu.
Political analysts have attributed the replacement of Dubey with Sharma to the latter’s broader mass base in the Vaishno Devi constituency, particularly in the Bhomag region. The constituency, established through the delimitation exercise, is relatively small and carries significant political weight. Although Dubey enjoys a strong presence in Katra, his reach in Bhomag was perceived to be limited, prompting the party leadership to favor Sharma.
The situation has further escalated with the involvement of former Congress minister Jugal Kishore Sharma, who expressed his solidarity with Dubey and hinted at the possibility of contesting the elections independently if the BJP failed to reinstate Dubey. This unexpected gesture of support reflects the deep-seated tensions within the BJP, where internal conflicts and factionalism threaten to undermine its electoral prospects.
The incident highlights the challenges facing the BJP in maintaining control over its internal dynamics. While the party has been successful in garnering electoral support, the recent developments in J&K point towards potential fissures within its ranks. The party leadership will need to carefully navigate this crisis and address the grievances of its disgruntled members to ensure unity and maintain its political momentum in the upcoming elections.
Source: Ravinder Raina rushes to Katra after revolt rattles BJP’s J&K unit