Vibha Sharma
Tribune News Service
New Delhi, July 31
BJP chief Amit Shah today appointed party vice-president Avinash Rai Khanna as in-charge of forthcoming elections in Jammu and Kashmir.
Setting a target of "44-plus" in the 89-member state assembly (of which two are nominated), Khanna told The Tribune that the BJP would "form the next government in the state on its own" and that "the Kashmir Valley would also give the party its due".
"In the ongoing membership drive, 2.40 lakh new members have joined the BJP so far in the state. Of these, 80,000 are from Kashmir alone… Our first target is to form the government independently," he said, adding that the organisation was constantly strengthening its presence at the mandal and booth level while making its presence felt in the Valley where it has been traditionally weak.
"Last time when we contested (in 2014), we had won 25 seats, all from Jammu region. However, much has changed since then. We have had the experience of running a government and have marked our presence from the panchayat to Parliament. For the first time we saw a lead in the Tral Assembly constituency during the 2019 LS polls.
"Despite the three Opposition parties joining hands against us, we increased our vote share. Our elected representation has increased, our membership has increased. There is enthusiasm in Kashmir where people have, for the first time ever, seen delivery by the Centre. People believe in PM Narendra Modi. Several Opposition leaders are also in touch with us. I am sure Kashmir will give the BJP its due this time," Khanna said.
Khanna's appointment comes a day after BJP working president JP Nadda chaired a meeting of the party's J&K core group to discuss preparedness for the forthcoming polls.
On additional deployment of forces in the state, he said: "It is an administrative decision. There is no bad intention behind it. Nothing is going to happen. People of Kashmir know exactly how they have been misled by the so-called Kashmiri leaders."
He said: "Whether it is the NIA crackdown or the case against former chairman of J&K Bank for allegedly causing loss to the public, all this has happened during the Governor's rule. The law and order situation is continuously improving in the state."
The EC is likely to announce the poll schedule after the Amarnath Yatra, with sources indicating the window between "October-November" coinciding with polls in Haryana, Jharkhand and Maharashtra.
from The Tribune https://ift.tt/2KftGGr
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