Srinagar: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has appointed Sunil Kumar Sharma, a seasoned strategist from Jammu & Kashmir, as election co-incharge for Assam, aiming for a third consecutive victory in the upcoming Assembly elections scheduled for March–April 2026. This decision, approved by BJP national president JP Nadda, reflects the party’s strategy to leverage Sharma’s experience in a region with demographic and electoral similarities to Jammu & Kashmir. Sharma’s recent success in the Rajya Sabha elections, where he played a pivotal role in orchestrating cross-voting among MLAs that led to a significant defeat for the National Conference, has garnered attention from the BJP leadership. His ability to secure the support of eight MLAs, particularly from the Kashmir Valley, has been noted as a key factor in this achievement. In the 2024 Assembly elections, Sharma effectively led the BJP’s campaign in the Chenab Valley, resulting in victories in four out of eight contested seats. Additionally, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has expressed support for the appointment of Baijayant Panda as election in-charge for Assam, alongside Sharma and Darshana Ben Jardosh as co-incharges, indicating a strong organizational strategy for the upcoming elections.
