KL Report
SRINAGAR
Bhartiya Janta Party (BJP) changed its decision last moment and decided to field Fayaz Ahmed Bhat who runs an NGO from Central Kashmir for upcoming Lok Sabha elections. This was stated by Party’s Vice President Kashmir Affairs Ramesh Arora, “it was a collective decision taken by the party high command.”
Arif Raja who was supposed to contest Parliament elections from Srinagar on the ticket of BJP was barred by party high command to file nomination papers.
“Arif Raja was shown door because the party don’t want in disciplined people in its fold,” said Arora.
Fayaz Bhat who filed his nomination papers on Wednesday said that he never approached the BJP high command for the mandate. “I am the founder member of the BJP and had contested election of BJP ticket in 1999. It was the high commands decision to field me from Srinagar,” Bhat told CNS.
A Srinagar based BJP member said on condition of anonymity that party high command had received a number of complaints against the previous BJP candidate Arif Raja. High Command reposed trust in Fayaz Ahmed Bhat and was informed the development three days before,” he said.
Meanwhile, the disgruntled BJP proposed candidate Arif Raja appeared in Press Enclave Srinagar and told reporters that he did not contest elections after the BJP talked about the abrogation of Article 370 in its manifesto. “I am from Old City Srinagar and I won’t let any party (BJP) to play with the sentiments of people of Kashmir by talking about the abrogation of Article 370,” he said.
