JAMMU: BJP’s below-par efficiency in Pir Panjal area of Rajouri and Poonch has come underneath scrutiny after the social gathering managed to win solely one of many eight meeting constituencies in these two frontier districts of Jammu zone. BJP received 29 seats, all in Jammu area, within the just-concluded J&Ok meeting polls however confronted a rout in Pir Panjal.
Political observers attributed BJP’s failure within the mountainous area to the political dynamics following the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019, results of polarisation over the Pahari quota row, and the rise in terrorist actions, regardless of the social gathering’s claims of normalising the state of affairs within the two districts sharing a border with Pakistan.
Whereas BJP secured Kalakote-Sunderbani, Nationwide Convention (NC) and Congress swept the remaining seven constituencies — Nowshera, Rajouri (ST), Budhal (ST), Thannamandi (ST), Surankote (ST), Poonch Haveli, and Mendhar (ST).
BJP’s defeat is especially putting as a number of high functionaries misplaced. The largest upset got here in Nowshera, the place the social gathering’s state president Ravinder Raina misplaced to NC’s Surinder Chowdhary, whereas common secretary Vibodh Gupta was defeated by Congress candidate Iftikhar Ahmed in Rajouri.
In Budhal, BJP’s former cupboard minister Chowdhary Zulfkar Ali misplaced to his nephew and NC candidate Javed Iqbal Choudhary. The social gathering’s fortunes have been no higher in Poonch district, the place the social gathering misplaced all three seats.
Doda-based political analyst Tariq Mehmood mentioned BJP had excessive expectations in Pir Panjal area, believing its choice to grant ST standing to the Pahari neighborhood would safe their votes. “BJP anticipated a clear sweep, however issues went incorrect. Although BJP claimed to champion the reason for tribal communities in Poonch and Rajouri, they couldn’t win voters’ confidence.”
Mehmood mentioned BJP additionally struggled to make inroads in Chenab valley, the place it misplaced in Ramban and Doda. “AAP’s maiden victory in Doda poses a brand new problem to each Congress and BJP,” he mentioned.
Based on college scholar Vishal Singh from Rajouri, BJP claimed there could be no scrapping of any group’s quota, however “NC managed to create the concern amongst Gujjars and Bakerwals that they might lose if BJP received”.
He mentioned political indicators in Pir Panjal area are influenced by its ethnic divisions. “In Rajouri, 4 meeting constituencies that at the moment are a part of Anantnag-Rajouri Lok Sabha seat are aligned with Kashmir. Sunderbani-Kalakote, a part of Jammu parliamentary seat, leans towards Jammu politics. BJP failed to take advantage of these divisions.”
