8 october 2024 : Sunil Sharma, a former minister and general secretary of the BJP in Jammu and Kashmir, is contesting the assembly election in the Padder-Nagseni constituency. His main rival is Pooja Thakur of the National Conference, the current chairperson of the District Development Council (DDC) Kishtwar. Early trends show that Sharma is trailing behind Thakur in the race.
Padder-Nagseni is one of six new assembly seats added to the Jammu region after the delimitation process, with the final report submitted in May 2022.
Sharma has been instrumental in the BJP’s growth in Jammu and Kashmir, particularly after the abrogation of Article 370 in August 2019. His leadership has made him a key figure in the BJP’s strategy for the region ahead of the 2024 assembly elections.
In 2014, Sharma represented the Kishtwar constituency and served as the Minister of State for Science and Technology and Transport with independent charge. At 47, he has a clean record with no criminal cases and holds a net worth of ₹3.7 crore, including movable assets of ₹68.7 lakh and immovable assets worth ₹3 crore, with liabilities of ₹3.1 lakh.
Sharma also maintains strong ties with the BJP’s central leadership, leading him to campaign for other party candidates while contesting his own seat. Union Home Minister Amit Shah even held a rally supporting him, urging voters to elect Sharma, promising, “make him an MLA, and we will make him a big man.”
Padder-Nagseni, which went to polls on September 18, saw a voter turnout of over 80.67 percent.
