Abid Bashir
Srinagar, Oct 10: Jammu and Kashmir unit of the BJP has started a massive assessment of all three parliamentary constituencies of the UT ahead of the crucial Lok Sabha elections slated for March-April next year. Party’s J&K Chief Ravinder Raina chaired the review meeting of all three Parliamentary constituencies to devise strategy, planning and fine-tune the public outreach programs.
In the past few days, Raina, didn’t check the party pulse but passed serious directions that include plugging the loopholes, overcoming the shortcomings, reaching out to all sections of the society and strengthening the party at booth and constituency level. “Raina chaired back to back meetings of party men. Primary focus of the J&K BJP chief’s visit to Kashmir was on Anantnag-Rajouri parliamentary seat,” a senior party leader said wishing not to be named. “South Kashmir will remain a special focus for which the Union Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal has been made in incharge.”
As per the BJP leader Raina travelled in train from Banihal to Baramulla to gauge the mood and to get first-hand account of the ground situation. “He met scores of people including party workers to get feedback directly from the ground zero before chairing the review meeting for north Kashmir Parliamentary constituency,” the BJP leader said, adding that in the second round, the BJP J&K chief chaired the crucial meeting for what he termed “politically significant Lok Sabha constituency”—Annatnag-Rajouri. “In the third round, he chaired the meeting of Srinagar-Budgam-Ganderbal constituency review meeting.”
For Anantnag constituency, the BJP J&K chief Raina passed important directions that include devising strategy, planning and public outreach. “For Anantnag-Rajouri seat, directions were to reach out to civil society members, students, elderly, youth, pony wallas, religious leaders and nomads as well,” a source privy to the meeting, said.
The sources said since Anantnag-Rajouri constituency is vas and spread right up to Poonch district of Jammu region, BJP leaders, middle-rung leaders and workers were asked to reach out to all segments of the society and garner support in favour of BJP. “Raina also informed that Prime Minister Narendera Modi will be invited to Anantnag in January or mid-February to address a gathering of over one lakh people and for that everyone has to work hard,” the source said.
He said that for Srinagar constituency, focus will remain on booths and constituencies. “In the days ahead, BJP as a party will be seen vibrant on ground in all three constituencies. Door to door campaigns, public meetings, small and big rallies are on cards everywhere before the snowfall this winter,” he said.
Another senior BJP leader who was part of all three meetings, said that even though the task ahead is tough, the party will play every bit to bag at least two out of three seats. “You will see party in action on ground,” he said.
