Jammu-Kashmir Election: J&K BJP Chief Ravinder Raina Fielded From This Seat In 4th Candidate List

The BJP released its fourth list of candidates for the upcoming Jammu and Kashmir elections, nominating 6 candidates. J&K BJP chief Ravinder Raina will contest from Nowshera.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Monday released its fourth list of candidates for the upcoming Jammu and Kashmir Assembly elections, nominating its Union Territory unit president, Ravinder Raina, from the Nowshera constituency in the Jammu region. With this latest list, the party has announced a total of 51 candidates, including 14 for the Kashmir Valley, where the BJP has yet to win a seat in the assembly elections.

Ravinder Raina, who previously won the Nowshera seat in Rajouri district during the 2014 polls, has once again been fielded from his home constituency. The other candidates on the list include former Member of the Legislative Council (MLC) Vibodh Gupta from Rajouri (ST) in the Jammu region, Aijaiz Hussain from Lal Chowk, Arif Raja from Eidgah, Ali Mohammad Mir from Khansahib, and Zahid Hussain from Chrar-e-Sharief, all from the Kashmir Valley. The list was finalised with the approval of the BJP's central election committee.

The Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, which has a 90-member assembly, will hold elections in three phases on September 18, 25, and October 1. The six seats mentioned in the list will go to the polls in the second phase. This election will be the first in Jammu and Kashmir since the revocation of Article 370 of the Constitution in August 2019, which led to the state's division into two Union Territories.

Modi Govt Dedicated To Ensuring J&K Assumes Pivotal Role In India's Growth Story: Union Minister Jitendra Singh

Union Minister Jitendra Singh, speaking on Monday, strongly advocated for the establishment of a BJP-led government in Jammu and Kashmir, emphasising Prime Minister Narendra Modi's commitment to integrating the Union Territory into India's growth trajectory. "We are working hard to form our government here," Singh stated, criticising the Congress and the National Conference (NC) for what he described as their exploitation of Article 370 for political gain, news agency PTI reported.

Singh remarked on the shift in political dynamics, noting how those previously avoiding public appearances in Srinagar now enjoy leisure at Lal Chowk. "Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his government are dedicated to ensuring J&K assumes a pivotal role in India's growth story. They are working hard on this vision," Singh told reporters.

The Union Minister underlined the importance of forming a BJP government to realise the Prime Minister's mission for Jammu and Kashmir, describing the party's approach as being rooted in three pillars: democratic processes, development in underdeveloped sectors, and promoting self-governance for effective governance. "A double engine government, with the BJP both at the Centre and in J&K, is essential for J&K to thrive and play a significant role in India's rapid development, especially as we approach the centennial of our Independence in 2047," he added.

Singh highlighted the significant increase in tourism in Jammu and Kashmir following the abrogation of Article 370 and stressed that the upcoming Assembly elections represent a pivotal shift towards a five-year term, made possible by the Article's abrogation. He also criticised past governments for allegedly stalling critical projects, citing initiatives like the Shahpur-Kandi and Rattle projects, which gained momentum under PM Modi's leadership, along with new power projects in Kishtwar.