In Jammu and Kashmir, where the BJP has given a call for Mission 44 plus for the coming Assembly elections, Sangh Parivar cadre have been highlighting the issue of development and employment.
While the saffron party had gained significantly in the Jammu region during the general elections, Kashmir valley is the main focus area of its poll strategies as the party BJP is yet to open an account in this region and has no strong base. There are 46 Assembly seats in Kashmir. Sources disclosed the party is reaching out to former leaders of Congress, PDP, NC and also regional outfits, to make sure that it can atleast field candidates on atleast more than a dozen seats in the Valley. Speculation is rife that former Congress leader Chaudhary Lal Singh could also join the saffron fold. BJP chief Amit Shah is scheduled to address a rally in Jammu region on Monday and is also expected to visit border camps. While the saffron party had reiterated its stand on the Article 370 in its election manifesto, sources disclosed as part of its election strategy, the Sangh Parivar cadre is raising how the state and in particular the Valley, has been bereft of any development, without directly touching upon the controversial issue.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi had recently announced a “P-3” project to modernise Pashmina production, additional funding of `8000 crores for road projects and “saffron revolution” to boost saffron cultivation. Mr Modi himself has visited the state twice, first to flag off Delhi-Katara train in July and then to inagurate a hydro power project and laid the foundation stone for Leh-Srinagar transmission line earlier this month. BJP had received a positive feedback of Mr Modi’s visit to the state.
Sangh cadre, it was learnt, are also meeting business communities and youths to highlight how they have been the worst effected and how a BJP government, whose main poll planks are development and good governance, can only bring the necessary changes. Without directly raising the Article 370 issue, the Sangh cadre are telling people how the state has been cut-off from the national mainsteam and deprived of schemes and assistance that the rest of the nation is benefiting from. The saffron party is also trying to woo Gujjars (considered mainly as National Conference’s votebank) and Bakkarwals, by highlighting how they have been deprived of the ST status because the state has not allowed some central laws.
BJP workers are also trying to reach out to people living in border areas and urging them to participate in elections.
BJP is also getting in touch with Kashmiri migrants and encouraging them to exercise their franchise in the coming assembly elections in the state.