Ganesh Kendale
NEW DELHI: Bharatiya Janata Party candidate Shagun Parihar registered a win in Jammu and Kashmir’s Kishtwar seat. According to the Election Commission, Parihar won by 521 seats by defeating National Conference‘s Sajjad Ahmed Kichloo.
BJP’s decision to nominate Shagun Parihar as their candidate was a strategic move to garner support from the district’s diverse religious demographics.By selecting a representative who could potentially connect with both the sizeable Muslim population and the smaller Hindu community, the party hoped to make inroads in an area that had been affected by acts of terror in the past.
The choice of Parihar was seen as an attempt to bridge the gap between the two religious groups and foster a sense of unity in the face of adversity. The BJP recognised the importance of addressing the concerns of all constituents, regardless of their faith, in order to effectively serve the district and work towards a more harmonious future.
Who is Shagun Parihar?
Shagun, in her maiden electoral campaign, sought to win over voters by portraying the contest as a choice between those accused of plundering businesses and perpetrating violence, and those committed to “bringing peace, security, and prosperity” to the people.
Holding an MTech degree in electrical power systems, she is presently engaged in doctoral studies and preparing for the J&K Public Service Commission examination.
Parihar’s father Ajeet Parihar and her uncle Anil Parihar who was a senior leader in BJP, were killed by terrorists on November 1, 2018 just before the panchayat polls. While campaigning for elections, Shagun had asserted that the votes for her will not be for her family, but for every family that has suffered losses due to terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir.
Considered a moderate voice within the BJP, her uncle Anil had managed to garner some support from the Muslim community. He remained actively involved in Kishtwar politics throughout the peak of militancy, particularly during the BJP’s Doda Bachao Andolan in the 1990s, which resulted in the arrests of senior party leaders from the Centre in Jammu.
Historically, Kishtwar has been a bastion for the National Conference, but the political landscape underwent a change in 2014 when the BJP captured the seat for the first time, with its candidate Sunil Sharma emerging triumphant.
The BJP first won in Kishtwar in 2014.
