BJP candidate for Surankote, Mushtaq Ahmad Shah Bukhari, passed away from a heart attack in his home in Poonch district, Jammu and Kashmir, according to party officials. He was 75 years old and is survived by his wife, two daughters, and a son.
Bukhari had been experiencing health issues for some time and suffered the heart attack around 7 am, a BJP leader reported. A two-time former MLA for Surankote, he joined the BJP in February after his Pahari community received Scheduled Tribe status from the Centre.
He was a candidate for Surankote in the second phase of elections held on September 25, alongside 25 other constituencies. Bukhari left the National Conference in February 2022 after a 40-year association due to a disagreement with party president Farooq Abdullah regarding the Scheduled Tribe status.
Jammu and Kashmir BJP president Ravinder Raina, along with leaders from other political parties, expressed their condolences regarding Bukhari’s passing, with Raina stating that his death created an irreplaceable void as he was a leader well-regarded by the public.
