BJP to field Muslim candidate in UP assembly election for first time
Lucknow: In a politically significant development, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is planning to field a Muslim candidate in the upcoming assembly bypoll for the Kundarki seat in Moradabad, Uttar Pradesh. This move marks the first time the BJP will field a Muslim candidate in an assembly election in the state.
The Kundarki seat became vacant after the incumbent Samajwadi Party (SP) MLA, Zia Ur Rehman, was elected to the Lok Sabha from the Sambhal constituency. Sources indicate that the BJP is considering a senior Muslim functionary from within its ranks for the bypoll.
A top BJP official confirmed to The Times of India that the party’s organizational leadership is in contact with a Muslim party member. “The state leadership will consider all aspects before finalizing his name and sending it to the central leadership for final approval,” the official stated.
Muslims constitute approximately 60% of the electorate in Kundarki, a seat the BJP has never won. The BJP's decision to field a Muslim candidate is seen as a strategic move to counter the opposition, primarily the SP-Congress alliance, and to consolidate votes in the upcoming bypolls on ten seats.
In the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, the BJP fielded Abdul Salam, former vice-chancellor of Calicut University, from the Malappuram seat in Kerala. Although Salam lost to ET Mohammad Basheer of the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML), the decision reflected the party’s attempt to reach out to Muslim voters.
In Uttar Pradesh, the BJP last backed a Muslim candidate, Haider Ali, in the 2022 state elections from the Suar assembly seat in Rampur on an Apna Dal ticket, an ally. Ali lost to SP’s Abdullah Azam by over 60,000 votes. Previously, in the 1998 Lok Sabha elections, Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi won from Rampur but lost the seat in 1999 to Congress’s Begum Noor Bano. Syed Shahnawaz Hussain, another senior Muslim BJP leader, won the Kishanganj seat in Bihar in the same year and was later inducted into the Vajpayee government.
The bypolls are seen as a crucial battle of prestige for both the BJP and the SP-Congress combine as they gear up for the 2027 assembly elections. By-elections are also due in Karhal, Katehari, Milkipur, Khair, Sisamau, Phulpur, Majahwan, Ghaziabad, and Meerapur. The BJP previously won Khair, Phulpur, and Ghaziabad, while the SP held Katehari, Karhal, Milkipur, Sisamau, and Kundarki. Meerapur and Majahwan were won by BJP allies, the Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) and the NISHAD party, respectively.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
Passing out parade held at IMA Dehradun, 491 young officers join Indian Army
Dehradun(PTI): After undergoing rigorous training at the Indian Military Academy (IMA) in Dehradun, 491 cadets participated in a grand Passing Out Parade on Saturday and will now be commissioned as officers in the Indian Army.
The spectacular parade, held at the historic Drill Square in front of the academy's Chatwood Building, was reviewed by Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi, who served as the reviewing officer.
Along with 491 Indian cadets, 34 foreign cadets from 14 friendly countries also participated in the Autumn Term 2025 Passing Out Parade.
A total of 525 officer cadets from the 157th Regular Course, 46th Technical Entry Scheme, 140th Technical Graduate Course, 55th Special Commissioned Officers Course, and Territorial Army Online Entrance Exam 2023 Course participated in the Passing Out Parade.
The 'Sword of Honour' and gold medal for securing first place during training was awarded to ACA Nishkal Dwivedi, the silver medal to BUO Badal Yadav for second place, and the bronze medal to SUO Kamaljeet Singh for third place.
The silver medal for securing first place in the 'Technical Graduate Course' was awarded to Officer Cadet Jadhav Sujit Sampat, and the silver medal for first place in the 'Technical Entry Scheme-46' was awarded to WCC Abhinav Mehrotra.
The silver medal for the 'Special Commission Officer Course' was given to Officer Cadet Sunil Kumar Chhetri.
Among the foreign cadets, the first place in merit was secured by JUO Mohammad Safin Ashraf from Bangladesh. The Army Chief's Banner for overall best performance in the Autumn Term was awarded to Imphal Company.
As the parade concluded, helicopters showered flowers on the newly commissioned officers from the sky.
On this occasion, General Dwivedi congratulated the new officers in his address for successfully completing their training. He praised the young officers for their high level of discipline, leadership qualities, and endurance, and urged them to uphold the glorious traditions of the Indian Army and serve the nation with loyalty, commitment, and honour.
General Dwivedi said that joining the army marks the beginning of a lifelong duty and selfless service.
The parents and guardians of the newly commissioned officers were also present during the passing out parade.
