AZHAR HUSSAIN
SRINAGAR, Feb 21: In a significant political development that signals shifting alignments in the Kashmir Valley, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Saturday organised a grand induction ceremony at the iconic Srinagar International Convention Centre (SKICC), where several District Development Council (DDC) members, former corporators, and prominent political figures formally joined the party.
The high-profile event, attended by senior BJP leadership and a large gathering of party workers, was marked by visible enthusiasm as the new entrants were ceremonially draped in saffron scarves emblazoned with the party’s lotus symbol. The convention hall reverberated with slogans of “Viksit Bharat,” while party banners and flags adorned the venue, underscoring the BJP’s assertive outreach in a region traditionally dominated by regional parties.
Among those who joined the BJP were Manzoor Ahmad Ganai, DDC Member from Aripal–Pulwama; Mansha Akhtar, DDC Member from Achgoza–Pulwama; Mehmooda Akhtar, DDC Member from Shadimarg; Danish Bhat, former Corporator of the Srinagar Municipal Corporation; Nazir Gilkar, former Corporator; Altaf Mir, former BDC Chairman; Khalid Rathore; and Hujjatul Islam Aga Syed Abbas Rizvi, who serves as State General Secretary of the All India Shia Personal Law Board and was formerly associated with the DPAP as State Secretary. Their induction is being viewed by political observers as a strategic step by the BJP to consolidate its grassroots presence and strengthen its organisational base in the Valley.
The ceremony was led by J&K BJP President and Rajya Sabha MP Sat Sharma, Leader of Opposition Sunil Sharma, General Secretary (Organisation) Ashok Koul, and General Secretary Anwar Khan. Addressing the gathering, the leaders described the joining of elected representatives and influential local figures as a reflection of growing confidence in the BJP’s development agenda and governance model.
In his address, Leader of Opposition Sunil Sharma launched a sharp attack on the ruling Jammu & Kashmir National Conference (NC), accusing it of misleading the electorate during the 2024 Assembly elections by promising the restoration of Article 370. Calling the constitutional provision “a closed chapter,” Sharma questioned the legal and constitutional basis of references to “special status” and said he had repeatedly sought clarity from the government on the Assembly floor regarding its position. He argued that raising expectations about the revival of Article 370 amounted to political rhetoric without constitutional backing.
Sharma further alleged inconsistency in the NC’s political conduct, claiming that the party had at various times aligned with the BJP for convenience while publicly opposing it. He urged voters to reflect on what he described as contradictions in the party’s political stance.
A substantial portion of his speech focused on allegations that nearly 24,000 government posts had been outsourced to a private company without transparent recruitment procedures such as public advertisements, written examinations, or interviews. Describing the move as a betrayal of the educated youth of Jammu and Kashmir, Sharma demanded that the government disclose the identity of the company involved and make public all recruitment-related details. He warned that the BJP would pursue the matter vigorously both inside and outside the Assembly if the government failed to provide a clear explanation, asserting that employment concerns could not be ignored in a region grappling with high unemployment.
He also criticised the administration over what he termed unfulfilled promises, including the pledge of providing 200 units of free electricity, and accused it of attempting to claim credit for centrally sponsored schemes initiated under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership. Reaffirming the BJP’s commitment to transparency, merit-based employment, anti-corruption measures, and accountable governance, Sharma called upon party workers to intensify grassroots outreach and counter what he described as misinformation campaigns.
There was no immediate response from the National Conference, PDP, or Congress at the time of filing this report.
The event at SKICC reflects the continuing churn in Jammu and Kashmir’s political landscape. By inducting elected DDC members, former corporators, and influential leaders such as Danish Bhat and Khalid Rathore, the BJP has sought to project an image of steady expansion in the Valley, signalling its intent to deepen organisational roots and recalibrate the region’s political equations in the months ahead.
