NVI Correspondent
Srinagar, June 16 (NVI): Congress party is definitely feeling the heat of BJP in Jammu region as the saffron party is pushing in its stalwarts more frequently to the region. The Congress, however, relies on its number one star campaigner Rahul Gandhi even as it hopes to bring back Sonia Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi and Sachin Pilot for campaigning shortly.
Whatever the reasons, the saffron party is giving Congress a very tough time in Jammu region. Union Home Minister Amit Shah was the first to launch BJP’s campaign in Jammu where he released the party’s Sankalp Partra as well. Today, Shah is arriving again to Jammu to address three rallies in a row in—one at Paddar Nagseni Assembly constituency in Kishtwar district of Jammu, Kishtwar Assembly constituency and Ramban Assembly constituency.
This will be Shah’s second visit to Jammu in less than a fortnight. Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh also visited Jammu last week where he claimed that Pakistan was treating the residents of Pakistan occupied Jammu and Kashmir as “foreigners” while India treats them as its own residents. He also stated that the PoJK residents will soon merge with India.
After Singh, BJP’s number one star campaigner Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Doda on September 14. He became the first Prime Minister of the country to visit Doda in the past 70 years. Locals of Doda said that in the past seven decades, no Prime Minister visited the district.
Sources in the BJP said that party’s National president J P Nadda is also set to hold a massive road show in Jammu on September 18. On the contrary, Congress is struggling to bring its prominent faces to Jammu for campaigning, raising question mark: “Is Congress leaving an open ground in Jammu for BJP?” J&K Congress chief Tariq Hameed Karra said that there is no question of leaving an open ground for BJP. “Rahul ji is arriving soon. Plus, Congress chief Malikarjun Kharge, Sonia Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi, Sachin Pilot, Jairam Ramesh, Kanhaiya Kumar and others are scheduled to visit J&K shortly,” they said.
Former J&K Congress president Ghulam Ahmed Mir told NVI that Rahul ji is the party’s face and he is coming to UT frequently. So far he has visited J&K twice. “He has addressed gatherings in Jammu’s Bahihal and Kashmir’s Dooru and will again visit Dooru constituency,” he said.
A senior leader, however, said that Congress needs a big push in Jammu if not in Kashmir. “In Kashmir, NC president Dr Farooq Abdullah, Omar Abdullah is adding colour to Congress campaign jointly, but yes, we are slightly lagging behind in Jammu region,” he said, wishing not to be named.
In Srinagar, BJP General Secretary Ram Madhav while hinting at BJP’s plan in J&K had told NVI that “We will get 35 seats in Jammu and need 10 more in Kashmir,” he had stated. On September 15, Mahdhav addressing function in Srinagar, asserted that this election will be historic and BJP will form the government for sure. (News Vibes of India)
