Wrong candidates, rebels stopped BJP from increasing tally in J-K

The BJP failed in its attempt to become the single largest party in Jammu and Kashmir mainly because of its loss in the Ladakh region, where it couldn’t win a single seat. The BJP could have also added five more seats from the Jammu region.

The BJP failed in its attempt to become the single largest party in Jammu and Kashmir mainly because of its loss in the Ladakh region, where it couldn’t win a single seat. The BJP could have also added five more seats from the Jammu region.

Relying heavily on Modi wave, it made wrong choice of candidates at some places. The BJP also suffered to an extent by rebel candidates, who contested independently.

The striking defeat for the BJP was in Nagrota constituency. It was twice represented by BJP state unit president Jugal Kishore Sharma, who was elected MP. The party had first decided to give mandate to Ajatshatru Singh, who had switched over from the NC. But, then fielded Jugal’s brother Nand Kishore. He lost to National Conference candidate Devender Singh Rana, a close confidant of former CM Omar Abdullah.

The wrong choice of the candidate denied it Bishnah and Poonch as well.

“The party doesn’t contest elections for defeat. But, in a democracy many things work. And, it’s wrong to say we made wrong choices at some places,” said the state unit president.

The BJP lost all the four seats in the Ladakh region despite having won the Lok Sabha seat.