...May release its J&K manifesto on November 15

NEW DELHI: The BJP may avoid making the controversial Article 370, providing special status to J&K, its main plank in the upcoming assembly polls.

The party, which is slated to release its election manifesto on November 15, will fall back on the tested ‘Modi wave’ and the issue of development to increase its footprint in the state.

“Development of the state and the misrule of the twin families of Abdullahs of NC and Muftis of PDP are going to be our main plank,” BJP general secretary Ram Madhav said.

Madhav had recently met People’s Conference leader Sajjad Lone and, in a subsequent interview, he did not rule out the possibility of a post-poll tie up.

Many in the party feel a ‘hard-line’ position on Article 370 may not serve purpose in the local polls. “Article 370 is a national issue for us... any decision on the issue is vested with the Union government,” a BJP source said.

Madava refused to comment when asked about the reference to Article 370 in BJP’s manifesto.