J&K BJP gives huge responsibility to Poonch BJP leaders; Dr. Shenaz Ganai is made vice-president, Ch Abdul Gani is made president of J&K ST morcha

J&K BJP gives huge responsibility to Poonch BJP leaders; Dr. Shenaz Ganai is made vice-president, Ch Abdul Gani is made president of J&K ST morcha

SALIL RAINA

(POONCH TODAY NEWS)

JAMMU/POONCH: In a significant political development, J&K BJP, after facing defeat in the last assembly elections from the Rajouri-Poonch region, has given important responsibility to two Poonch-based BJP leaders at the UT level. Former MLC Dr. Shenaz Ganai, who left her parent party, National Conference, before joining the BJP, got huge responsibility as vice president of the J&K BJP, while sitting DDC member and BJP’s MLA candidate in the 2024 assembly elections, Ch. Abdul Gani, has been made president of the J&K ST morcha.

This is the first time that J&K BJP has given huge and important assignments to leaders from the Poonch district, but the surprising thing in the recent announcement was that former MLC Pardeep Sharma was not included anywhere. It is important to mention here that Poonch BJP, in the last assembly election, despite having big names, managed to secure 20,928 votes (21.39%) and stood at the second position, while NC candidate Ajaz Jan won the seat by taking 41,807 votes (42.72%). BJP was hoping for a comfortable win in the assembly elections from the Poonch seat after granting ST status to Paharis, but the election result surprised the BJP leadership. Despite falling behind in winning the seat, the BJP’s top brass have given a huge responsibility to two Poonch BJP leaders, and it’s an indication that the party has something big in mind for the future. Dr. Shenaz Ganai, who at present is the only highly educated BJP leader in the area in addition to being blessed with the gift of the gab, is likely to play a crucial role for the party in J&K and other states, being a strong woman face with an overall knowledge of local and national-level politics. Dr. Ganai has enough legislative experience, and that could be the reason that the J&K BJP has given her huge responsibility. On the other hand, Ch Abdul Gani, who was earlier an NC and Congress leader, joined the BJP before the 2024 assembly elections and fought on the BJP mandate and got 20,928 votes. Understanding his political might and the possible big role he may play for the party at the UT level, Ch Abdul Gani has been assigned the charge of president of J&K ST morcha. This recent development from the BJP’s angle is not a normal one and indicates that the party has not lost confidence after the results of assembly elections from the Rajouri-Poonch belt. Although the Poonch BJP is known for differences of opinion among its various lobbies, the party’s top brass seems to have played a card to keep them all together in the interest of the party for the future elections of any kind. Among all the BJP leaders in the district on the basis of political merit and education, Dr. Shenaz stands tall among all, though she has yet to prove her true representative character through the voting capacity in any election. After Dr. Shenaz Ganai, Ch. Gani, who enjoys massive voter backing, ex-MLC Pardeep Sharma, and Adv. Sohail Malik are the strong faces for the party in the district. It would be interesting to see whether the saffron brigade’s new strategy of ensuring good coordination among all factions will give desirable results for the party in future elections or not.