Reasi, Sep 21, KNT: The prestigious Shri Mata Vaishno Devi (SMVD) Assembly constituency in Reasi district has become a high-stakes battleground for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), following its shocking defeat in Ayodhya, the heart of Hindutva politics.
As the constituency prepares to go to polls on September 25, the BJP faces an uphill battle due to infighting and resentment within the party. Seven candidates are in the fray, but the main contest is between BJP’s Baldev Raj Sharma, Congress’s Bhupinder Singh, and independent candidates Jugal Kishore and Sham Singh.
Sham Singh, a 52-year-old candidate backed by Katra’s influential Baridari community, has emerged as a dark horse. The community, comprising around 15,000 voters, has been demanding reservations in jobs in the Shrine Board and scholarships for their children in higher education.
Sham Singh, who has garnered significant support, told the news agency Kashmir News Trust that the Shrine Board has overlooked Baridari community and the community has been fighting for their rights. He added that it’s time for a change.
Besides, the Baridari community, the Yuva Rajput Sabha, a prominent group, has also extended support to Sham Singh, further bolstering his campaign.
The BJP’s internal strife surfaced when the party initially nominated Rohit Dubey, Reasi’s district president, only to withdraw his candidature hours later and replace him with former MLA Baldev Raj Sharma. This move sparked protests from party workers, who vowed to vote against the official candidate of the BJP.
A senior BJP leader conceded, “Infighting and resentment have affected our chances. We’re working to mitigate the damage, but it’s an uphill task.”
Sensing the mood of the people against the BJP, Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed an election rally and conducted a roadshow in Katra. Local sources said that even the Modi’s aura has not helped the official candidate of the party to win the support of the Baridari community.
Former MLA and Independent candidate Jugal Kishore is also popular among the voters while Congress candidate Bhupinder Singh is trying hard to win the support of the people. Singh Singh is confident of capitalizing on the BJP’s internal divisions.
“The people of SMVD constituency are seeking change. We’ll provide a strong alternative to the BJP’s failed promises,” Singh said.
A BJP supporter admitted that it is not so easy for the party to wrest the seat. “There is a multi-cornered contest and this has made the outcome unpredictable,” he said and confirmed that the position of Independent candidate Sham Singh is very strong on the ground. [KNT]
