Ali Asad
Srinagar, Feb 27: As BJP state President Ravinder Raina on Tuesday has been nominated as a candidate for Rajouri- Anantnag Seat for the forthcoming Lok Sabha polls, the party is meticulously planning to secure victory on the seat through more means than one.
In a strategic move aimed at consolidating its presence in the crucial Rajori-Anantnag Lok Sabha constituency, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has welcomed three prominent leaders along with their supporters into its fold. This development marks a significant effort by the BJP to expand its influence in the Kashmir Valley.
Former National Conference minister Mushtaq Bukhari, ex-MLA Shahnaz Ganai, and former MLC Rafiq Shah have recently joined the BJP, signaling the party’s concerted push to capture the Anantnag-Rajouri parliamentary seat. These acquisitions underscore the BJP’s determination to make inroads into Kashmir politics with substantial backing from influential leaders who hold sway over both Pahari and Gujjar communities, as well as Muslim voters.
With approximately 14 lakh voters in the constituency, including significant proportions of Pahari, Gujjar-Bakarwal, and Muslim electorates, the BJP’s strategic maneuvering seeks to capitalize on shifting political dynamics. Notably, the recent grant of Scheduled Tribe (ST) status to the hills by the BJP government has altered the electoral calculus, as a considerable portion of the electorate with historical affiliations to the National Conference (NC) and the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) is now up for grabs.
Sources said that the BJP’s outreach efforts in the region may extend further in the coming days, with plans to enlist additional prominent leaders from both hill and Muslim communities. This concerted approach underscores the BJP’s resolve to contest the Rajori-Anantnag seat vigorously.
In a parallel development, the BJP dealt another blow to the National Conference as former provincial secretary KD Singh, along with 300 supporters, joined the party. Additionally, senior BJP leader Nanak Chand and more than 100 supporters aligned themselves with the BJP in a symbolic move aimed at strengthening the party’s grassroots presence.
