Who Is Shagun Parihar? BJP's New Face From Kishtwar (image:facebook.com/ShagunParihar)
Shagun Parihar is among the first 15 candidates announced by the BJP for the assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir and the only woman candidate so far. On August 27, Tuesday she filed her nomination from Kishtwar constituency in her debut polls.
Parihar, aged 29, is pursuing a doctorate in electronics. She is the niece of Anil Parihar, veteran BJP leader in Jammu and Kashmir. She lost her father Ajit Parihar, and her uncle in a terrorist attack in Kishtwar on November 1, 2018, when they were returning from their shop in the night.
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Though she had no plans to join politics at least anytime soon, the fate had other plans. She stressed that these elections are not just about her or her family but for all those who have sacrificed their lives for the nation. “I do not want anyone else to face what I underwent when I lost my father and uncle,” News 18 reports, as Parihar said in a press conference.
She has extended gratitude to the BJP high command for respecting the the families of martyrs who laid down their lives for the nation and the party. “My priorities will be peace and security, employment generation, women’s empowerment, trade and tourism,” Parihar said.
Since her uncle was a strong BJP leader from the district, politics is not an alien territory for Parihar. She was active in local politics since student days.
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The development of all communities and advancement of mountainous Kishtwar district is her avid goal, Parihar stated.
Earlier, former minister Sunil Kumar Sharma represented Kishtwar and currently he has been fielded from Padder-Nagseni constituency.
The elections to the legislative assembly of Jammu and Kashmir will be held in three phases on September 18, 25 and October 1. The counting of votes will take place on October 4.
