Avtar Bhat
JAMMU, Jan 29: As a run up to Rajya Sabha elections to be held on February 7, BJP Core Group met here today under the chairmanship of Dr Jitendra Singh, Union Minister of State in PMO with independent charge of North Eastern States and discussed the strategy for the same.
The meeting among others was attended by BJP State president, Jugal Kishore Sharma, former Party president and MLA Billawar, Dr Nirmal Singh, another former president, Ashok Khajuria, BJP general secretary (Organization), Ashok Kaul, party general secretaries and MLAs Kavinder Gupta, Bali Bhagat and Rajiv Jasrotia. Besides, the Party candidates for Rajya Sabha, Shamsher Singh Manhas and Chander Mohan Sharma were also present in the meeting, which lasted two hours.
Though Dr Singh while talking to reporters termed it as a routine meeting, which is held after some time to discuss the Party affairs, BJP sources said that strategy for Rajya Sabha elections was discussed in the meeting.
Sources said that the Core Group discussed the strategy to ensure the victory of both BJP candidates.
Dr Singh, who did not make any comment on Government formation in the State, however, said that BJP is for the installation of a democratically elected Government in the State as it believes that solution to all problems lies through democratic process.
Sources said besides the PDP support, which has 28 MLAs in 87 member House, BJP with 25 members needs the support of five Independents at least as the combination of two parties touches 53 legislators. While two MLAs of People’s Conference (PC) are supporting BJP, the Party will also approach the other Independents for support to ensure the victory of its candidates on both the seats, sources added.
Later, talking to reporters, BJP State president (MP) Jugal Kishore Sharma said that the dialogue process on Government formation with PDP is on and the Party High Command will decide the Chief Ministerial candidate. Jugal exuded confidence that BJP will win both the Rajya Saba seats in the State for which forms have been filled up already. “Our strategy is to win both the seats with the support of other parties”, he added.
He said the Core Group meeting discussed various issues and strategy to win both the seats with support of allies. On formation of Government in the State, he said, parleys are on and BJP is for formation of a democratic Government for the welfare of the people in the trouble -torn State.
In response to a question regarding fielding of Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha (RS), Ghulam Nabi Azad as a joint candidate by Congress and National Conference (NC) who have also formed an alliance, he said that the two parties joined hands to form the Maha Gathbandhan (grand alliance) and the outcome of the same will be known on February 7.
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