BJP flip-flop on J&K list

The BJP initially released the names of 44 candidates for the 90 seats but later retracted these and released a fresh list for the first phase of the election. Later it added one more name.

- Gaurav Vivek Bhatnagar

Confusion enveloped BJP's first list of candidates for the upcoming Assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir as the party initially released the names of 44 candidates for the 90 seats in the House but later retracted these and released a revised list of just 15 names for the first phase of the election.

While no reason was provided for the change in the announcement of fewer candidates in the first revised list, it probably had to do with the heartburn it caused among those who were denied tickets. With the polling dates for the second and third phases still distant, the party thought it wiser to focus on the first phase, in the hope that the resentment will be contained.