In Kashmir, BJP does its bit to back new players in bid to dislodge NC, PDP
Though not contesting in the Valley, the BJP is seeking the support of Hindu, Gujjar and Pahari voters, who account for over 50% of the voters, to support regional parties other than NC and PDP
lthough the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is not contesting the three Lok Sabha seats in the Kashmir Valley, over three dozen leaders from the party have started a rare people-to-people contact and asked the cadres to support parties which have a potential to dislodge the National Conference (NC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
The Kashmir Valley is witnessing its rst Lok Sabha polls after Jammu and Kashmir became a Union Territory in 2019 and a victory of regional parties, other than the PDP and NC, could help the BJP’s narrative of people accepting the revocation of Article 370.
The campaigning by the new regional parties — J&K Apni Party, the Democratic
AProgressive Azad Party (DPAP) and the J&K Peoples Conference — have targetted the Abdullahs and Mehbooba Mufti. In separate poll speeches, the candidates of these parties blamed them for the “con©ict in Kashmir” and “use of force on civilian population during agitations”.
A meeting of BJP national general secretary Tarun Chugh, along with BJP Jammu and Kashmir unit president Ravinder Raina and general secretary and incharge of Anantnag-Rajouri Lok Sabha constituency Vibodh Gupta, on Wednesday decided to put two campaigners in charge of each of the 18 Assembly segments in this constituency where voting will be held on May 25.
Sources said the BJP leaders are mobilising the support of Hindu, Gujjar and Pahari voters, who make up over 50% of the 18 lakh voters, for the candidates who belong to parties other than NC and the PDP. Mr. Raina and other senior leaders camped in Anantnag and Baramulla for several days.
“The people deserve leaders who are committed to their well-being round the clock, not just during election season,” Mr. Gupta said.
PDP president Mehbooba Mufti and NC leader Mian Altaf, also a Gujjar leader, are contesting the seat while Zafar Manhas, a Pahari, and Saleem Parray are the J&K Apni Party and DPAP candidates respectively.
“We are chalking out separate strategies for the three Kashmir seats,” Mr. Raina said.
Polling in the other two seats in the Valley — Srinagar and Baramulla — will be held on May 13 and May 20 respectively.