After securing an all-time high of 29 seats in the 2024 Assembly elections, the BJP has devised a fresh strategy to open its account in the Kashmir Valley, where it failed to win a single seat. The party has identified constituencies where it plans to focus its efforts ahead of the 2029 Assembly elections.
Addressing media persons after attending his farewell function, outgoing BJP general secretary Ashok Koul said the party had emerged as a formidable political force in the Kashmir Valley. Koul expressed confidence that the BJP would win its first Assembly seat in the Valley in the next elections, asserting that it had established itself as a significant political force in the region.
Koul added the party had identified certain constituencies where it would concentrate its efforts to strengthen its organisational base and expand its electoral presence.
Highlighting the BJP’s performance in the 2024 Assembly elections, Koul noted that the party had secured more than 58,000 votes in the Kashmir Valley. The BJP had fielded candidates in 19 of the Valley’s 47 Assembly constituencies.
Although it failed to win any seat, its vote share in the constituencies it contested rose to around 5.8 per cent, more than double the 2.5 per cent it had secured in 2014, when it contested a larger number of seats.
On average, BJP candidates polled nearly 7 per cent of the votes in the constituencies they contested. The party’s strongest performance came in the Gurez Assembly constituency in north Kashmir, where its candidate secured 7,246 votes, accounting for about 40 per cent of the total, and finished a close second, losing to the National Conference by a margin of just 1,132 votes.
The BJP also finished second in Habba Kadal and secured notable vote shares in several other constituencies, including Shopian, where its candidate polled 6,895 votes and finished fourth; Rajpora, where the candidate secured 5,584 votes, or more than 10 per cent, and finished third; and Anantnag West, where the candidate polled 6,574 votes and finished third.
“We lost the Gurez Assembly constituency by a narrow margin of about 1,000 votes, while we performed well in the Shopian and Rajpora constituencies,” Koul said.
He added that the BJP had substantially expanded its footprint across the Kashmir Valley over the past 14 years during his tenure as general secretary.
“We have identified some constituencies in the Kashmir Valley where the party has huge potential. The party will focus on these particular seats to increase its tally in the next Assembly elections,” he said.
Koul recalled that when he took charge as general secretary of the J&K BJP, the party’s presence in the Valley was negligible. Today, he said, the BJP had established itself as a significant political force, with an organisational network of workers across all 47 Assembly constituencies in the Kashmir Valley.
Farewell accorded to Ashok Koul
J&K BJP president and Rajya Sabha member Sat Sharma said the Bharatiya Janata Party had always recognised and honoured the dedication, commitment and selfless service of its leaders and workers who contribute to strengthening the organisation and advancing its ideology.
Sharma was addressing a function organised to bid farewell to Koul. He said the BJP was an organisation in which dedication, discipline, sincerity and commitment to ideology were valued above personal ambitions and positions.
Unlike parties driven by individuals or families, Sharma said, the BJP drew its strength from dedicated workers who served the organisation with honesty and commitment. Every worker, irrespective of position, received recognition and respect for sincere contributions.
He added that Koul’s tireless efforts, vast experience and disciplined working style had played an important role in expanding the BJP’s organisational network and strengthening its grassroots presence across Jammu and Kashmir.
Leader of Opposition Sunil Sharma said the felicitation reflected the BJP’s organisational culture of recognising dedication, loyalty and selfless service. He said Koul had worked tirelessly under challenging circumstances, guided countless workers and contributed significantly to strengthening the party’s organisational structure.
Expressing gratitude for the honour, Koul thanked the party leadership, senior functionaries and workers for their affection and cooperation.
Koul steps down as BJP general secretary
On September 27, Ashok Koul resigned as general secretary of the J&K BJP. According to reports, health concerns and age had made it increasingly difficult for him to discharge his responsibilities with the same rigour as before.
After considering his request, the party leadership decided to relieve him of his responsibilities, which will now be entrusted to another leader.
During his long tenure, Koul played a central role in strengthening the BJP’s organisational structure in Jammu and Kashmir. He spearheaded the party’s expansion down to the booth level and fostered closer coordination among party workers.
His responsibilities included chairing organisational meetings, coordinating outreach campaigns and conducting regular review meetings with office-bearers at various levels of the party.