BJP finalizes draft schedule, visits in Oct-Nov
Various welfare schemes, projects to be launched
Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, Sept 27: Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah are likely to visit Jammu and Kashmir to give boost to BJP’s campaign for Lok Sabha elections due in April-May next year by addressing rallies and launching various development projects and welfare measures for the people of the Union Territory.
While it will be a day’s visit of Modi, Shah is expected to be in Jammu and Kashmir for minimum of two days and maximum three days depending upon his schedule whenever it is finalized, senior BJP leaders who have prepared the draft schedule told the Excelsior.
They said the Home Minister has given his consent to the tour programme while a formal nod from the Prime Minister is expected as the UT Government is also preparing detailed list of projects and welfare schemes which he will launch and inaugurate.
The BJP leaders are confident about Shah’s visit in the month of October and that of Prime Minister either in November or December start.
As per the schedule, the Prime Minister will address one programme each in Jammu and Kashmir divisions. The programme in Jammu division is likely to be organized in Jammu and that of Kashmir in Anantnag district. However, the tour will be finally approved in consultations with the Union Territory Government which has been drafting series of welfare measures/schemes for the people to be announced by Narendra Modi.
“A number of development projects are nearing completion in both divisions of the Union Territory while some more works are to be launched. The major projects among them will be initiated and inaugurated by the Prime Minister in both the divisions,” they said.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah has been requested by the party leadership to address at least three rallies in Jammu division including one each in Poonch and Doda districts and third at either Udhampur or Kathua district. In the Kashmir valley, he is expected to hold massive rally at Anantnag.
During his three days visit to Jammu and Kashmir last year in October, Amit Shah had addressed a rally each at Rajouri and Baramulla and announced that Paharis will get ST status. He had also reviewed security scenario in the UT and launched projects running into thousands of crores.
Shah’s tour could last three days, the party leaders said.
The visit of the Union Home Minister followed by the Prime Minister will sound poll bugle for Lok Sabha elections in Jammu and Kashmir which are due in April-May next year.
Apart from this, the BJP leadership has also requested party president Jagat Prakash Nadda for two to three days visit to Jammu and Kashmir at his convenience but his tour is yet to be finalized. However, as per the party leaders, Nadda will definitely visit the UT before announcement of Parliamentary polls.
Party leaders said their national leadership has asked them to ensure that the BJP gets at least three Lok Sabha seats from Jammu and Kashmir and gives tough fight in remaining two. The party will, however, contest all five seats with full force.
The BJP won Udhampur-Doda and Jammu-Poonch Lok Sabha seats for two consecutive terms in 2014 and 2019. In addition, it also bagged Ladakh Parliamentary seat for both the terms. However, Ladakh is now a separate Union Territory.
Besides Jammu and Udhampur seats, whose boundaries have now been altered after Delimitation Commission giving more advantage to the BJP, the party has also been eyeing South Kashmir-Poonch constituency which has large number of Pahari electorates to whom the Central Government is going to give Scheduled Tribe status ahead of the Parliamentary polls.
In case of low turnout in South Kashmir districts like Anantnag and Pulwama, the BJP sees a chance on this seat as well.
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