Jugal, Khajuria mortgaged BJP with successive Govts: Former BJP leaders

Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Dec 18: Former BJP leaders Pawan Gupta and Baldev Raj Sharma said that J&K BJP is not safe in the hands of BJP State president and Member Parliament (MP) Jugal Kishore Sharma and MLA Ashok Khajuria as they mortgaged State BJP into the hands of the successive Governments for their petty gains.
Addressing a joint press conference, former BJP leaders and independent candidates from Udhampur and Reasi constituencies Pawan Gupta and Baldev Raj Sharma stated that it is high time for the central leadership to save the State BJP from the clutches of Jugal Kishore Sharma and Ashok Khajuria being both under clout and damaging the interests of the party.
Pawan Gupta stated that Jugal Kishore Sharma remained sole MLA from BJP in Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly from 2002 to 2008 and exercised his votes in election to Rajya Sabha seats and Legislative Council. In whose favour, Sharma polled his vote, as there was no official candidate of the BJP nor officially supported candidates, he questioned.
“During the election to the Rajya Sabha seats in J&K in the year 2009 in which BJP supported candidate AV Gupta came into election fray, two votes from BJP came short in favour of supported candidate”, he said, adding that the issue of cross voting was under carpeted at that time.
He pointed out Ashok Khajuria revealed to file a defamation case against the allegation leveled by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah that Khajuria met him in close doors with his personal issues and not with people’s issues. The defamation case became silent and further the party under carpeted the matter, he alleged.
While speaking, Baldev Raj Sharma said that he was denied mandate by BJP on the allegation of cross-voting. He held RSS responsible for the same and added that RSS is driving the State BJP.
“I contested Assembly elections as independent candidate with a sole aim to defeat BJP candidate from Reasi constituency”, he added.
Gupta and Sharma appealed to the masses to beware on December 20 polling date and exercise their franchise enmass with their inner voice for the pride of great Jammu to such candidates, who can deliver them to their satisfaction instead of being lured with false promises.

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