Atmosphere of change in J&K clearly visible: BJP’s Prez Nadda

Asserting that the atmosphere of positive change in J&K is clearly visible, BJP president J P Nadda asked party cadre to strengthen party at booth level.

The arrival of BJP national president J P Nadda in Jammu also fueled speculations that the party was gathering inputs from local leaders to chalk out its poll strategy for the upcoming Assembly elections in the Union Territory (UT). The visit came after the timeline fixed by Union Home Minister Amit Shah for much awaited assembly polls in Jammu and Kashmir hints at early announcement of elections.

The visit is taking place in the wake of a recent statement by Home Minister Amit Shah that assembly elections in J&K will be held six to eight months after the Delimitation Commission submits its findings.
The political hustle-bustle is likely to gain momentum in Jammu and Kashmir with visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah.

“PM Modi likely to visit J&K in the end of this month for groundbreaking ceremony of the launch of industrial investments in Jammu and Kashmir. While Amit Shah likely to participate in CRPF’s raising day on March 15,” a credible source informed The News Now.

Nadda arrived in Jammu in his first visit to the region after the abrogation of Article 370 and its bifurcation into two Union territories in August 2019. This is also the first visit since he was made president of the BJP.
On Tuesday, J&K Congress incharge Rajni Patil, MP will be arriving in Jammu to discuss organizational issue and take part in two public functions.

Earlier, the People’s Alliance for Gupkar Declaration (PAGD) few days back released a white paper on BJP’s claims post the revocation of Article 370 on development, peace, jobs and investments, calling these claims ‘a pack of lies’.

For further strengthening the party in the Union territory ahead of the forthcoming polls, Nadda kick started the party campaign after paying obeisance at the revered Mata Vaishnodevi shrine in Katra. The BJP national president visit assumes significance as elections to Jammu Kashmir Assembly is expected to take place later this year after the finalization of the delimitation commission report.

Exhorting party cadres to gear up for the assembly polls Nadda asked that present was theirs and efforts should be made to grab future too. As per sources Prime Minister Narendra Modi is also likely to visit J&K in connection with inauguration of key development projects. The visits by top leaders in coming months are aimed to bolster party’s prospectus in upcoming polls.

Nadda accompanied by National General Secretaries Tarun Chugh(Prabhari Jammu-Kashmir) and Vinod Tavre while addressing meeting of senior party leaders at Hotel Welcome, Katra, praised party’s Kashmir-based leaders for remaining steadfast during tough times and braving violence. “In 2008, no one could have thought that BJP rallies would be held in Kashmir as violence was at its peak. But I saw rallies and other programs of BJP taking place as the party’s Kashmir based workers and leaders remained committed towards the party,” Nadda told the meeting. He, as per sources, hailed the party’s Kashmir based leaders for their efforts towards strengthening party roots in the Valley and urged them to keep moving in the right direction.

“You should get ready for the assembly elections. Present is ours but we all must make efforts to retain the forte and grab the future too,” Nadda was quoted as having told the meeting, as per sources.

He also checked the party pulse stating that the party was getting stronger with each passing day as more and more people are joining it. “We have 18 Crore workers across the country which really is a big achievement. In J&K, we have to strengthen the party at booth and constituency levels. You must build a close rapport with the people in villages, towns and constituencies to make BJP stronger day by day,” he told the meeting, as per sources.