The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Thursday announced that it will field candidates for both the Budgam and Nagrota constituencies, where by-elections are scheduled to be held next month.
The Budgam seat fell vacant after Chief Minister Omar Abdullah resigned from it and decided to retain the Ganderbal constituency, while the Nagrota seat became vacant following the death of senior BJP leader Davendra Raina.
Talking to media in Jammu, according to the news agency Kashmir Indepth News Service (KINS), Leader of Opposition Sunil Sharma said the party would contest both seats with full determination.
“Although we are not very strong in Budgam, we will fight on both seats with full power. The BJP will announce candidates for these constituencies very soon,” Sharma said.
Responding to a question about the PDP’s proposed “anti-bulldozer” bill, Sharma alleged that the bill was aimed at protecting illegal encroachments.
“The PDP wants to protect land mafia and illegal occupants. We won’t allow such a bill that seeks to safeguard those involved in unlawful land grabbing,” he said. (KINS)
