Arun Jasrotia
Udhampur,(TDD): The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Wednesday expelled two prominent leaders from the party for contesting against the party’s candidate in the Udhampur East constituency.
Pawan Khajuria, former State Vice President of BJP JK UT, and Balwan Singh, former Chairman of Block Development Council (BDC) Udhampur, were suspended from the party on Wednesday.
Earlier, Khajuria had announced his intention to run as an independent candidate after being denied the BJP ticket, which was instead given to former MLA Ramnagar R.S Pathania. Despite protests from Khajuria’s supporters, the party stood firm on its decision.
Balwan Singh, who recently left the BJP and join the Jammu and Kashmir National Panthers Party (India) led by former J&K Minister Harsh Dev Singh, is contesting from the same constituency under the JKNPP(India) banner.
The BJP high command cited “indiscipline” as the reason for the expulsions, specifically mentioning their decision to contest against the official BJP candidate. According to a BJP press note, the suspensions were based on recommendations from the party’s Disciplinary Committee and were implemented with immediate effect by J&K BJP Working President Sat Sharma.
This move highlights the BJP’s strict stance on party discipline and its efforts to present a united front in the upcoming assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir.(TDD)