Srinagar, Dec 15 (KNO): After his stellar performance in the 2024 Jammu & Kashmir Assembly polls and pulling off a stunning victory for the party in the recent Rajya Sabha elections, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has entrusted its seasoned tactician from Jammu & Kashmir, Sunil Kumar Sharma, with a key role in Assam’s political battlefield.
The BJP national president JP Nadda has approved the appointment of Sharma, Leader of Opposition in the J&K Assembly, as election co-incharge for Assam, where the party is aiming for a hat-trick victory in the Assembly elections likely to take place in March–April 2026.
Sharma has been deployed in the Northeastern state of Assam, where the demography and electoral equations are to some extent similar to those of Jammu & Kashmir.
Sources told news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that the BJP high command was impressed by Sharma’s maneuvering in the recent Rajya Sabha elections, when eight MLAs cross-voted and handed a humiliating defeat to the National Conference (NC) on the fourth seat. While the BJP polled 32 votes-four more than its assembly strength-three MLAs supporting the ruling alliance deliberately cancelled their ballots, while another MLA, either intentionally or unintentionally, cast an extra vote in favor of NC’s Gurwinder Singh Oberoi despite being asked to vote for Imran Nabi Dar.
It is widely believed that Sharma managed to secure the support of these eight MLAs, six of whom are reportedly from the Kashmir Valley.
In the 2024 Assembly polls, Sharma spearheaded the BJP’s campaign in the Chenab Valley, delivering the party victory on four out of eight seats.
Meanwhile, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has welcomed the appointment of Baijayant Panda, BJP national vice-president, as election in-charge for Assam, along with Sunil Sharma and Darshana Ben Jardosh as election co-incharges.
“Pleased to welcome Hon'ble @BJP4India Vice President, Shri @PandaJay Ji as the Election In-Charge for the upcoming Assam Legislative Assembly elections 2026,” he said in a post on X, formerly Twitter.
He added that they are confident, under Panda ji’s guidance, the NDA will secure a historic third consecutive mandate to serve the people of Assam. “I also welcome Hon'ble Union Minister Smt. @DarshanaJardosh Ji & MLA Shri Sunil Kumar Sharma Ji as Election Co-Incharges,” he said—(KNO)