Srinagar, Aug 29 : As the election atmosphere gains momentum in Jammu and Kashmir, political big-wigs from BJP and Congress are all set to arrive one by one all the way from New Delhi to lure voters in the UT.
Reliable sources told that among the political stalwarts, Prime Minister Narendera Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, BJP national president JP Nadda, besides dozens of Union Ministers and BJP leaders are all set to make their way into J&K from September 7.
“There will be a vigorous campaigning for the BJP in both Kashmir and Jammu regions. All the leaders known as crowd pullers in the party are expected to take part in election campaigning in the UT,” a senior BJP leader said, wishing not to be named. He said that from September 7 onwards, BJP leaders will start arriving in J&K one by one to address rallies. While BJP is primarily focussing on Jammu region where party bagged both the parliamentary seats with thumping majority. BJP’s Jugal Kishore won Jammu parliamentary seat while as Dr Jitendera Singh emerged victorious from Udhampur Lok Sabha seat.
The party is eyeing at least 40 seats from both regions to stake claim on the government formation. There is a need of 48 seats for forming the government. BJP sources said that if party manages to win 40 on its own, it will get support from independent eight candidates to form the government. However, the target set by the BJP seems to be a herculean task given the party’s poor performance in the recently held Lok Sabha pols in Kashmir.
The party didn’t field any candidate in Kashmir in the Lok Sabha polls and relied on its proxies, who also failed get votes from the people.
BJP’s J&K election in- charges—Union Minister G Kishen Reddy and the party’s point man Ram Madhav will also be part of party’s campaigning in J&K. Madhav was recently recalled to test waters in J&K as to whether party can forge “secret” alliance with its like-minded people.
As far the Congress, Rahul Gandhi is the party’s start campaigner while as All India Congress Committee (AICC) President Malikarjun Kharge will be part of every big rally in J&K. The Congress party has already entered into a pre-poll alliance in J&K with the National Conference on all 90 seats even as there will be a friendly contest on five seats. Former J&K Congress president Ghulam Ahmed Mir said that over 50 top Congress leaders will be part of campaigning in J&K in the days ahead.
Rahul during his recent visit to J&K asserted that party is committed to ensure restoration of statehood to J&K. He, however, didn’t talk about party’s stand on restoration of Article 370. Similarly, NC in its manifesto has made it clear that it will fight for the restoration of what has been rights snatched from the people post August 5, 2019
