Is BJP eyeing Yashpaul Sharma for next assembly election? BJP leaders approach Yashpaul
POONCH TODAY NEWS
POONCH: After the recent visit of some high profile BJP leaders to the house of ex-MLC Yashpaul Sharma, rumors are going on that BJP top brass has decided to convince Yashpaul Sharma to join the party and fight the next assembly elections on BJP mandate from Poonch. Highly placed sources in the state BJP camp told “POONCH TODAY” pleading anonymity, that party was aware of huge weight and good reputation of Yashpaul among the masses. They also said that Yashpaul was having a clear image in public as he devoted his life for public cause and this is the main reason that people from all the sections of the society respect him. Sources also said that state BJP was not happy with the performance of Poonch unit and party has decided to bring in more popular and respected faces into party fold. A prominent office bearer in BJP headquarter, said, “Party has got every bit of information about Poonch unit of BJP including some past and present activities, so party has decided to approach big political minds for the future as BJP’s main target is to form the next government on its own in UT J&K”. It is pertinent to mention here that in 2002 assembly elections, Yashpaul got 27,000 plus votes. In 2007 bi-elections, Yashpaul got more than 18,000 votes. During 2014 parliamentary elections, Yashpaul got 36,000 plus votes from Poonch haveli constituency alone and a total of more than 1.70 lac votes from Jammu Poonch constituency. In the last Municipal elections, Yashpaul’s team managed to form the Poonch municipality with the support of few independents. As the news broke out that few BJP leaders visited the house of Yashpaul, local BJP cadre was seen totally perturbed with this unexpected political development. There are authentic reports that after the visit of BJP leaders to Yashpaul’s house, local BJP cadre was up in arm against state leadership and a verbal dual took place between few local and state level BJP leaders as the former objected to the decision of state BJP leadership to convince Yashpaul. There are also reports that Yashpaul may likely to introduce his younger son Udesh Paul Sharma, who is a dental surgeon, in politics to carry forward his legacy. Insiders in BJP party headquarter told “POONCH TODAY” that party has decided not to consult local BJP cadre on important issue of Poonch politics as party is keen to win Poonch seat by all means. Meanwhile, Yashpaul’s camp is soundless on this development and is not coming out to discuss anything on BJP leaders visit, but this sudden and unexpected development has created ripples in political circles, especially in local BJP camp as BJP leaders don’t want the entry of Yashpaul in BJP cadre, fearing threat to their political future. Going by the policy of state and national BJP to bring in more popular and visionary minds in BJP for the future, nothing seems to be impossible as far as changing of guards in local Poonch BJP is concerned as party wants to win by all means. It would be interesting to see in which way the winds blows for Poonch unit of BJP.
