Sunil Sharma, a former minister, was elected on Sunday as the leader of the BJP legislature party in Jammu and Kashmir, making him the party’s first-ever leader of the opposition in the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly. The BJP, now the main opposition party, secured a record 29 seats in the Union Territory’s assembly elections. The party had first gained power in Jammu and Kashmir in 2015 through a coalition with the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), which lasted until 2018.
Electoral Journey and Background
Sharma, 47, won the Padder-Nagseni seat in the 2023 assembly election, marking his second term. His win from this newly created constituency, established after the 2022 delimitation, was by a narrow margin of 1,546 votes against Pooja Thakur from the National Conference, who is also the chairperson of the District Development Council (DDC) Kishtwar. Sharma previously represented Kishtwar in the 2014 assembly elections and served as the Minister of State for Science and Technology and Transport, holding independent charge.
Political Influence and Record
With educational qualifications up to the 12th grade, Sharma has maintained a clean record, with no pending criminal cases. He is widely recognized for his significant contributions to the BJP’s expansion in Jammu and Kashmir, especially post the abrogation of Article 370 in August 2019. Known for his close connections with the BJP’s central leadership, Sharma also took on the responsibility of campaigning for other party candidates in the assembly polls. In a rally held in his support, Union Home Minister Amit Shah urged voters, saying, “Make him an MLA, and we will make him a big man.”
Assets and Party Announcements
According to his election affidavit, Sharma’s net worth is ₹3.7 crore, with ₹68.7 lakh in movable assets and ₹3 crore in immovable assets, while his liabilities total ₹3.1 lakh. The BJP has also announced that Narinder Singh will be their candidate for the position of deputy speaker in the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly.
Sunil Sharma’s election marks a historic step for the BJP in the Union Territory, further establishing its political presence and ambition in Jammu and Kashmir.