Excelsior Correspondent
REASI, Nov 24: Accompanied by Dr Jitendra Singh, BJP National Executive Member & State Chief Spokesperson, Party candidates for the forthcoming election of MLCs from Jammu, Col. (retd) Uttam Singh Manhas and Rashpal Verma held a series of public meetings at Pouni, Arnas, Reasi, Naiter, Vhamvla, Khairlair, Dhamua, Katra, Servarh, Sool, Kundorian, Aghar Jitto, Ramsoo and Bhaga. In the earlier hours of the day, Rashpal Verma accompanied by Dr. Jitendra Singh, visited Pouni and Arnas. Later they were joined by Col. Uttam Singh Manhas at Reasi and other places where they jointly addressed and campaigned for the favourable support from the voters comprising of Panchs and Sarpanchs. Dr Jitendra Singh explained to the Panchs and Sarpanchs that BJP was the only party which could take up cudgels for implementation of 73,74 Amendments because while the Congress followed a dual policy on the issue and the National Conference was under compulsion to take diktats from separatists These meetings had large gatherings of the Panchs and Sarpanchs wherein they openly interacted with the BJP candidates on whom they visibly had high expectations. The Panchs and Sarpanchs mainly were concerned about the hollow commitments made by the NC-Congress coalition prior to the elections of Panchs and Sarpanchs and they were also worried about the denial of the security to them by the Government. Both the BJP candidates assured the Panchs and Sarpanchs of fulfilling the commitments made in the Party manifesto in case BJP candidates are elected. For this they categorically convinced the voters that it was BJP only which even before Panchayat elections had protested in favour of implementation of 73rd Amendment to Panchayat Act and empowerment of Panchayats. Both the candidates besides Dr. Jitendra Singh were accompanied by senior leader of State BJP Bansi Lal Bharti, District President Kabla Singh, Arjun Singh, Dharampal, Rajesh Upadhyay and District Secretary Ajay Nanda who also campaigned in support of the Party candidates. Prominent Panchs who attended the meetings were Kishori Lal Sharma, Surya Prakash, Munshi Ram and Rishi Ram.