SRINAGAR, FEB 28: The Bharatiya Janata Party is eyeing South Kashmir’s Lok Sabha seat, the area where Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to address in March.
The BJP is striving to make inroads into the Kashmir valley, where it has not yet won a Lok Sabha or assembly seat despite persistent endeavours.
The Anantnag Lok Sabha seat in Kashmir, once covering areas of Anantnag, Kulgam, Pulwama, and Shopian, has been modified in the delimitation process. Consequently, sections of Rajouri and Poonch from the Jammu division are now part of this parliamentary constituency.
“We are hopeful to retain two seats in Jammu. Besides, we have gained ground in Kashmir over the years. We expect at least to win the Anantnag Lok Sabha seat. The Prime Minister will also address a rally there,” a senior BJP leader said.
The BJP is focusing on the delimitation process and the recent extension of Scheduled Tribe (ST) status to the Paharis in the Rajouri and Poonch districts.
J&K has five parliamentary constituencies of which three fall in Kashmir valley and two in Jammu. At present, three Lok Sabha seats in Kashmir are held by the National Conference- Farooq Abdullah from Central Kashmir, Justice Hasnian Masoodi from South Kashmir and Mohammad Akbar Lone from North Kashmir. The BJP has two parliament members from Jammu including Dr Jitendar Singh and Jugal Kishore.
J&K’s BJP president Ravinder Raina said the party will field candidates from all parliamentary seats of Kashmir.
The BJP has launched its Lok Sabha election campaign by inaugurating election offices in Srinagar, Baramulla, Anantnag, Jammu, and Udhampur. This move is perceived as an effort by the BJP leadership to broaden its influence in Jammu and Kashmir, particularly in the Valley. The central leadership of the BJP is actively engaging with local party leaders to assess the party’s chances in the upcoming elections. Meetings are being conducted with party workers, and a strategic decision has been made to connect with communities such as Gujjars, Bakerwals, Paharis, SCs, residents along the border and LoC, PoJK displaced individuals, West Pak refugees, and backward classes.
