Current Matters
Jammu : With incumbent BJP Chief Ravinder Raina continuing on an adhoc basis as his tenure has ended officially last year, there are rumors of a change of guard in the saffron party in Jammu and Kashmir.
But these reports haven’t yet materialized and are confined to rumors only as Raina is still holding his ground.
This was evident with his tweet yesterday when he wrote, “Tiger Abhi Zinda Hai” (Tiger is still alive)
Sources within BJP told Current Matters that till date there has been no communication from high command about the change of UT president and Raina continues to be the J&K chief. “Reports of his resignation were all rumors and he enjoys all the confidence of party high command. There have been no talks, officially, about his removal or change or extension. His tenure as BJP chief of J&K ended last year and he is continuing to occupy the post on an adhoc basis but officially no communication was received about his extension,” said a source.
The source said that J&K is not a priority for party high command at present as all the focus is shifting towards 2024 general elections where the party wants to do good in major states which decide the fate of any political party wanting to grab the throne in New Delhi.
But if rumors are to be believed change of guards is on the cards in this UT and names of few senior leaders are running to replace Raina.
Former minister and Kashmir incharge Sunil Sharma’s name is at the top of the list for J&K BJP chief whereas Member Parliament from Jammu, Jugal Kishore Sharma is also in the race. If sources are to be believed, if Jugal Kishore Sharma is given the task of running the party in the UT, he may not be the candidate from Jammu parliamentary constituency for 2024 elections.
Apart from Sunil and Jugal, names of former deputy CM Kavinder Gupta and former J&K BJP chief Satpal Sharma are also in the list.
But these are all rumors so far and we have got no confirmation from party leadership about the change of guard till date.
