On first visit to J&K after becoming BJP chief, Shah discusses poll strategy

BJP president Amit Shah, who arrived here this afternoon on his maiden visit to Jammu and Kashmir after being picked for the top party post, discussed party's strategy for the upcoming Assembly elections in the state.

Shah arrived in Jammu from Delhi on a two-day visit amid rousing welcome by BJP activists and leaders. Tight security arrangements were made in the city for the BJP chief's visit.

Later in the evening, Shah held a meeting of the BJP core committee and discussed preparations for the elections in the state, where it aims to win at least 44 of the total 87 seats.

Security personnel had a tough time controlling the BJP and Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM) workers, who virtually jam-packed the road to have a glimpse of Shah.

Flanked by senior party leaders J P Nadda, Ram Madhav, Avinash Rai Khanna and RP Singh, Shah was welcomed by Union Minister of State for PMO Jitendra Singh and BJP state chief Jugal Kishore Sharma among others.

"The morale of party workers and leaders has gone up. His arrival has further given boost to our will to meet our goal of achieving 'Missing 44+' in Jammu and Kashmir," BJYM state in-charge Udhvir Sethi told PTI.

Late in the night, Shah is scheduled to hold a meeting with the RSS leadership in the state.

Tomorrow, he will visit border migrants at a shelter in R S Pura and hold a public rally in Kathua, where two-time Congress MP and former minister Lal Singh is scheduled to join BJP.

The BJP chief's visit is aimed at mobilising the party cadres in the state ahead of the Assembly polls scheduled for later this year.

The tenure of the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly ends on January 19, 2015, and elections will be held before that for the 87-member strong Assembly.