JAMMU: Former Jammu and Kashmir minister and a founding member of the Jammu and Kashmir Apni Party, Chowdhary Zulfkar Ali, officially became a member of the BJP on Sunday at the party headquarters in Jammu. This move comes shortly after the election commission announced assembly polls in Jammu and Kashmir starting on September 18. Zulfkar was welcomed into the BJP by Union minister and the party's Jammu and Kashmir assembly election in-charge G Kishan Reddy, BJP national general secretary Tarun Chugh, Jammu and Kashmir BJP president Ravinder Raina, and Union minister of state for PMO Jitendra Singh. Prior to joining the BJP, Zulfkar met Union Home Minister Amit Shah in Delhi. Expressing his reasons for joining the BJP, Zulfkar highlighted his commitment to the welfare of the Scheduled Tribe community and the development of the Rajouri-Poonch region. He mentioned the challenges faced while being part of the Jammu and Kashmir government and the necessity of aligning with the National Conference for survival. Zulfkar previously served as a cabinet minister in Jammu and Kashmir from 2015 to 2018 and oversaw departments such as food and civil supplies and tribal affairs.