Meet Sunil Sharma, BJP's first-ever leader of opposition in J&K assembly

NEW DELHI: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Sunday announced Sunil Sharma, a former minister, to lead the Jammu and Kashmir BJP legislature party. Sunil Sharma is the MLA from Padder Nagseni constituency in Kishtwar district and will serve as the leader of opposition in the J&K state legislative assembly.

"Sunil Sharma has been elected as the BJP legislature party leader. He will be the leader of the opposition in the assembly," announced a BJP spokesperson following a legislature party meeting.

"Humbled and honored to be chosen as the Leader of Opposition in the J&K Legislative Assembly," Sharma said in a post on X after the announcement.



Who is Sunil Sharma?

Sunil Sharma will be the first leader of opposition from the BJP in the J&K Legislative assembly. The 47-year-old BJP leader secured a second term in the Jammu and Kashmir assembly after a close victory in Padder Nagseni, a constituency newly established after the 2022 delimitation in the Union Territory.

Sharma had defeated National Conference's Pooja Thakur by 1546 votes.

Sunil Sharma was the MLA from Kishtwar assembly constituency in the 2014 assembly elections, and between 2014 and 2018, he served as a minister of state in the PDP-BJP coalition government.

He has completed his education up to the 12th grade and is currently pursuing graduation from the Lovely Professional University of Jalandhar.

Sunil Sharma is credited for his contribution to expanding the party's presence in Jammu and Kashmir, particularly following the revocation of clauses of Article 370 in August 2019.

Various prominent BJP leaders, including Union home minister Amit Shah, campaigned in support of him. Shah even said, "Make him an MLA, and we will make him a big man."

Sunil Sharma's income

According to the election affidavit, Sharma possesses a total wealth of Rs 3.7 crore. This includes movable assets valued at ₹68.7 lakh and immovable properties worth Rs 3 crore. His declared liabilities stand at Rs 3.1 lakh.

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