BJP officially withdraws from Rajouri-Poonch-Anantnag election race

Jammu, Apr 15: The ruling BJP has formally declared that it will not field a candidate for the newly formed Rajouri-Poonch-Anantnag seat in the upcoming 2024 Lok Sabha elections, as per reliable sources within the party.
The notification for the Rajouri-Poonch-Anantnag Lok Sabha seat was issued on April 12th, prompting candidates to commence filing nominations since then. With the final date for filing nominations set for April 19th and elections scheduled for May 7th, political maneuvering is in full swing.
This newly carved-out constituency emerged after the delimitation process, with Rajouri and Poonch previously constituting part of the erstwhile Jammu-Poonch Lok Sabha seat.
Historically, the BJP clinched victories in the former Jammu-Rajouri-Poonch Lok Sabha seat during the 2014 and 2019 polls. A former senior minister within the BJP-PDP coalition government, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed the party’s decision to abstain from fielding a candidate for the Rajouri-Poonch-Anantnag seat.
High-level discussions were held between BJP leaders from Jammu and Kashmir and the party’s central leadership regarding this strategic move.
“While the decision to refrain from contesting the Rajouri-Poonch-Anantnag seat has been finalized, the party remains undecided on whether to vie for the two Lok Sabha seats in Kashmir,” revealed another senior BJP official.
Reports suggest that similar to the Rajouri-Poonch-Anantnag seat, the BJP is inclined not to nominate candidates for the Srinagar and Baramulla constituencies in Kashmir. Instead, indirect support is likely to be extended to other candidates, according to party sources.
It’s worth noting that former Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti and senior NC leader Mian Altaf are filing their nominations for the Rajouri-Poonch-Anantnag seat, with former J&K Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad yet to confirm his participation.
Key BJP figures such as Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, and UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath have already rallied in J&K, while Home Minister Amit Shah is slated to address an election rally in Jammu tomorrow.
With just four days remaining for filing nominations for the Rajouri-Poonch-Anantnag seat, the BJP’s decision not to contest serves as a clear indicator of its stance, noted senior party leaders.”