Opinion | How BJP Is Growing Its Footprint in Kashmir

From a time when the party couldn’t find candidates willing to contest, to now fielding serious contenders who’ve nearly clinched wins, the shift is hard to ignore. Take Gurez, for instance. Faqeer Mohammad Khan contested on a BJP ticket and lost by just over 1,100 votes to NC’s Nazir Ahmad Khan. That wasn’t a fluke. That was groundwork paying off.

Four years ago, the BJP wasn’t even part of serious political discussions in most of Kashmir. If someone brought up the party’s name in a gathering in Pulwama, Anantnag, Ganderbal, or Shopian, it would either be met with dismissal or hesitation. That’s no longer the case. BJP has shifted from being perceived as an outsider’s party to becoming a legitimate player in Kashmir’s political field. Whether people support them or oppose them, the fact is, they’re part of the conversation now. That alone marks a massive transformation. Let’s break it down. BJP’s growth in Kashmir isn’t random; it’s deliberate, planned, and people-driven. From a time when the party couldn’t find candidates willing to contest, to now fielding serious contenders who’ve nearly clinched wins, the shift is hard to ignore. Take Gurez, for instance. Faqeer Mohammad Khan contested on a BJP ticket and lost by just over 1,100 votes to NC’s Nazir Ahmad Khan. That wasn’t a fluke. That was groundwork paying off. In Shopian, Javid Ahmad Qadri ran a powerful campaign and got 6,895 votes, a significant chunk in a highly competitive field. This wasn’t symbolic participation. This was a real contest.

The party’s strategy has been grassroots. Door-to-door campaigns, especially in districts once considered hostile or indifferent, have played a major role. Instead of just holding rallies or relying on air-dropped leaders, the BJP has worked to build a presence on the ground. You’ll find their booth workers in remote villages. You’ll see saffron flags in places where they were once unimaginable. This didn’t happen overnight. It happened because the party invested time, and more importantly, engaged people directly. Leaders like Dr. Darakhshan Andrabi and Sajid Yousuf Shah have also been instrumental in reshaping the BJP’s image. They haven’t just parroted central talking points. They’ve connected with the people, addressed local concerns, and made space for dialogue. They’ve faced tough questions, and answered them, not avoided them. Their presence is not just symbolic. It gives people a face they can talk to and a voice that listens back.

Membership numbers tell their own story. As of now, the BJP’s registered membership in Jammu and Kashmir has crossed the 15 lakh mark. A large portion of that growth has come from Kashmir itself. Every month, new workers and youth volunteers are being added, many of them first-time political entrants. This is no longer a fringe movement. The party’s presence is visible on the ground, on social media, and inside the political psyche of the Valley. So how did this change happen? For one, the BJP stopped treating Kashmir as a checkbox for national integration speeches. It moved beyond slogans and began to show up with policies, welfare schemes, and a consistent presence. The narrative of development, national unity, and security has found resonance with a growing number of Kashmiris, especially among the youth. There’s disillusionment with traditional parties that ruled for decades and are now seen by many as part of the problem rather than the solution. BJP has used that vacuum well.

But here’s the thing. Presence is not enough. To become a true stakeholder in Kashmir’s politics, the BJP must now build deeper trust. That means focusing on candidates with local credibility, not just political loyalty. It means giving space to Kashmiri voices within the party, letting them shape the narrative rather than always following the central script. It also means standing firm on governance issues, being accessible, and responding to criticism with accountability. For the next elections, the BJP should double down on three things. First, field young, educated, rooted-in-the-soil candidates. Second, ensure the benefits of schemes like PMAY, Ayushman Bharat, and Start-Up India reach visibly and directly to the last mile in Kashmir. Third, open political dialogue spaces where people, especially youth, can ask questions and be heard, not lectured.

Because at the end of the day, politics in Kashmir cannot be just about flags or party lines. It has to be about presence, delivery, and trust. BJP has walked into the room. Now it has to earn its seat at the table.

The Writer is a student activist and can be reached at soulofkashmir1@gmail.com