BJP top contender in Valley

Once a non-entity in Jammu and Kashmir politics, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is emerging as a strong contender in the state politics with the saffron party fielding candidates in 75 Assembly segments out of 87.

For the first time, the BJP has fielded 33 candidates from Kashmir region which has 46 seats in the state Assembly. In 2008 elections the BJP had given tickets to 60 candidates from the whole state.

As Prime Minister Narendra Modi along with his council of ministers and other BJP big wigs have taken keen interest in J&K elections, the party believes that instead of Congress, it is BJP’s turn to be kingmaker government formation.

The BJP can take a heart from its performance in the last election when its tally touched a double digit figure.

Riding on polarisation wave in the aftermath of Amarnath land row agitation, the party won 11 seats mostly from Hindu dominated urban Jammu areas. The party had only one seat in 2002 elections.

At a time when the National Conference is on a decline and Congress graph has gone down in Jammu region, the BJP with all its might is striving to take control over the maximum number of seats.

Political analysts believe that the emergence of BJP throughout the country will have an impact on the J&K polls.

“As Modi wave is sweeping across the country, at least Jammu region won’t remain untouched from it. The BJP will win anywhere between 20-25 seats in Jammu region which has total of 37 Assembly segments,” they say.

“The keen interest shown by the Prime Minister and other BJP ministers in the poll campaigning is for sure aimed at boosting the morale of party workers in J&K. The visit of Modi on December 6 is also set to turn tables around in the political landscape of the state,” they added.

BJP’s state spokesman Khalid Jehangir claims that people in the state want to end the dynastic rule and they will vote for the party.

“All the three regions of the state want inclusive growth and development with the people of the state resolving to put lid over the politics of exploitation,” Jehangir told Deccan Herald.