BJP calls Cong-NC alliance ‘expired injection’

Srinagar Aug 22: Reacting to an alliance formed by National Conference and Congress, the BJP on Thursday termed it an “expired injection and expired alliance” and claimed it won’t have any impact in the upcoming Assembly polls in Jammu and Kashmir.
The Congress and NC on Thursday said they will be forging an alliance in the upcoming assembly polls in Jammu and Kashmir.

This comes after two top Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Malikarjun Kharge met NC’s Farooq Abdullah at his residence to finalize the pre-poll alliance. His son Omar Abdullah was also present during the meeting.
After the meeting, Farooq said, “The meeting was held in a very cordial atmosphere. The alliance is on track and it will go on well with God’s grace. This alliance has been done on all 90 seats.”
The announcement came after an hour-long meeting between leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and Omar and Farooq Abdullah at their Gupkar home in Srinagar.
Reacting to the development, BJP National General Secretary Tarun Chugh called the alliance an “expired injection”. “This is an expired alliance and won’t have any impact in the assembly polls,” he said.
Chugh claimed that three families have ruined Jammu and Kashmir over the years. “Their time is over now,” he added.
The election will be held in three phases: September 18, 25, and October 1, with vote counting on October 4.
Senior Congress leader and MP Rahul Gandhi is scheduled to visit Jammu and Kashmir for two days starting Wednesday to kickstart the party’s campaign in the Union Territory for the upcoming Assembly election.
The BJP has decided to go solo in Jammu but may support independents in some seats in Kashmir.
The BJP’s electoral strategy in Jammu and Kashmir will focus on its achievements post-2019, particularly the abrogation of Article 370. The BJP argues that this move has ushered in a new era of development, benefiting various communities such as the Gujjar Bakarwals, Scheduled Castes (SCs), West Pakistan refugees, and women. The BJP is expected to highlight these developments in its campaign, alongside infrastructure projects like the opening of AIIMS and the extension of rail connectivity to Kashmir.
In the 2014 Assembly elections, the BJP secured 25 seats, all in Jammu, while the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) won 28 seats, predominantly in the Kashmir Valley. Following the recent delimitation, the total number of seats in Jammu and Kashmir has increased to 114, with 24 reserved for Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir. The remaining 90 seats are split between Jammu (43) and Kashmir (47). This new configuration could lead to a highly competitive election, with the BJP focusing on Jammu and seeking to make inroads into Kashmir through alliances with independents.