8 leaders, two Incharges to join
UT’s political, security situation to be discussed
Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, Jan 14: After recent statements by two senior BJP leaders on conduct of Assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir in April-May, the BJP National Executive scheduled to meet in New Delhi on January 16 and 17 will also discuss the political and security scenario in the UT along with nine other States where Assembly polls are due this year.
Nine States where Assembly elections are due include Karnataka, Tripura, Nagaland, Meghalaya, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Mizoram and Telangana.
Assembly polls are also due in Jammu and Kashmir but a decision on their conduct has to be taken by the Election Commission of India (ECI) though the required formalities like delimitation of Assembly constituencies and Special Summary Revision of electoral rolls have been completed.
Senior BJP leaders told the Excelsior that the BJP leaders from Jammu and Kashmir who will attend the National Executive meeting include Union Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) Dr Jitendra Singh, UT chief Ravinder Raina, Ashok Koul, Organizing Secretary, Kavinder Gupta and Dr Nirmal Singh, former Deputy Chief Ministers, Priya Sethi, former Minister, Ali Mohammad Mir and Mohammad Rafiq Wani.
BJP national general secretary Tarun Chug, Incharge Jammu and Kashmir and Dr Narinder Singh, national secretary, will attend the meeting as national office bearers.
The BJP leaders said Assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir will be discussed just like nine other States where they are due this year and tasks will be assigned to the UT leaders.
“On its part, the BJP wants to be fully prepared for the Assembly elections though a call on the polls has to be taken by the Election Commission in March after taking assessment of the situation from the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) and Jammu and Kashmir administration. The Commission can also visit the UT or send its observers for drafting its own report on the elections,” sources said.
The BJP National Executive will not only discuss political situation in Jammu and Kashmir but also security scenario especially in the wake of latest carnage at Dhangri in Rajouri district in which seven civilians from minority community were killed by the militants on January 1.
While Union Home Minister Amit Shah visited Jammu yesterday to review security situation in the region especially Rajouri, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Army chief Gen Manoj Pande are scheduled to visit the border district after January 26. BJP general secretary (organizations) BL Santosh and Tarun Chug also visited Jammu on January 11.
As per the insiders, BJP president JP Nadda could also undertake a visit to Jammu and Kashmir shortly to discuss strengthening of the organization at grassroots level ahead of Assembly elections.
The Panchayat and Municipal elections are due in November-December this year as both Urban and Rural Local Bodies will complete their five-year term either by end of this year or start of next year.
Elections to Urban Local Bodies were held in October-November 2018 under Governor’s Rule in Jammu and Kashmir after 13 years while Panchayat polls were conducted in November-December after decades.
The resolutions to be adopted by the National Executive could also have mention of political and security scenario of Jammu and Kashmir.
Jammu and Kashmir has been without Legislature for last about four and half years. In June 2018, the BJP had withdrawn support to PDP-led Government headed by Mehbooba Mufti leading to imposition of Governor’s rule in Jammu and Kashmir.
On August 5, 2019, the Central Government scrapped special status of Jammu and Kashmir and bifurcated erstwhile State into two Union Territories of J&K and Ladakh.
J&K got Legislature but elections couldn’t be held due to delimitation of Assembly constituencies and revision of electoral rolls.
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