Srinagar, Aug 19, KNT: As the Assembly Elections in Jammu and Kashmir approach, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is gearing up for a high-profile campaign blitz. Top party leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, and Union Health Minister JP Nadda, will spearhead the campaign, addressing a series of rallies across J&K. Over the next few weeks, the leaders are expected to hold around 10 to 15 public rallies, covering various parts of the erstwhile state, in a bid to galvanize support for the party and sway voters in its favor.
Insiders said that a high-level team comprising Union Minister G Kishen Reddy, Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) Dr. Jitendra Singh, and BJP National General Secretary Tarun Chugh has been entrusted with the crucial task of shortlisting and finalizing candidates. This panel is responsible for meticulously screening potential candidates for all 90 seats and is expected to announce the definitive list of contenders within a brief span of two days, paving the way for the party’s electoral strategy in Jammu and Kashmir.
Insiders told the news agency Kashmir News Trust that the party will not enter into any major alliances, however, it is expected to receive backing from smaller, lesser-known parties in the region.
Sources added that the BJP is set to field fresh faces in the elections, marking a significant shift in its candidate selection strategy. The party is also making efforts to win over popular leaders from the region, with the aim of bringing them under the BJP umbrella. The party has already secured the support of Gujjar leader from Pir Panjal, Chowdary Zulifikar Ali. This move is seen as a significant boost to the party’s prospects in Jammu Division.
Insiders added that the BJP will focus its energies more on the Jammu region, where it has traditionally enjoyed stronger support, rather than in Kashmir, where its ground presence is relatively weaker. [KNT]
