JAMMU: As rumours are rife ahead of Lok Sabha Polls that the Bhartiya Janata Party unit of Jammu and Kashmir is likely to witness a change of guard soon, probably the new state president as well, president Ravinder Raina amidst various theories cooking around have tweeted ‘Tiger Abhi Zinda Hai’ giving a clear cut message across that his presidential chair is safe and secure.
As per inside sources, BJP is gearing up for Parliamentary Polls scheduled in May next year, The party high command may go for inducting new faces including the state president for which the deliberations are in progress.
“It is a sixth year in a row that Ravainder Raina is holding the post of J&K BJP president and the party high command has hinted to replace Raina with a new face as change of guard is expected in the party very soon,” sources stated.
Many senior leaders, sources said, have claimed for the top post and the change is expected very much before the 2024 Lok Sabha elections and much awaited Assembly elections.
However, amid speculations, Raina tweeted ‘Tiger Abhi Zinda Hai’ giving a message to party leadership that his presidential chair is still safe and he holds a strong position amongst the cadre.
Party sources said, “two former ministers and Lok Sabha members are in the race but the unanimous voice has been raised in favour of experienced and party loyalists instead of banking upon the new face.”
“The close aides of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh may be the first choice to be inducted as new party president as BJP is striving hard to strengthen its stronghold in Jammu before the assembly elections, for which political parties are pitching with one voice demanding restoration of statehood and popular government in erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir,” sources said.
Notably, the writ petition filed by the former Minister Harsh Dev Singh to the conduct of early assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir has been listed for hearing by the Supreme Court on July 6.
“BJP has increased its political activities across the Union Territory and the recent visit of Union Ministers Amit Shah and Rajnath Singh has cleared the dust on BJP’s preparedness for Lok Sabha Polls as well as Assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir,” they added.
According to sources, a meeting was also held recently under the chairmanship of Jammu and Kashmir in-charge Tarun Chugh regarding the contact campaign launched by the BJP on the completion of nine years of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government wherein it was decided to induct new faces into the party’s fold.
Raina has completed six years as BJP president and prior to him, Sat Sharma was the president, but Ravindra Raina was named acting president when Sat Sharma was inducted as minister in PDP-BJP coalition government.
After staying as working president for about 18 months, Raina was elected state president of BJP for three years and his tenure ended last year.
“This is for the second time in the last one year speculations are round the corner on announcing a new party president which is possibly going to see a change very soon,” party sources added.
