SRINAGAR, FEB 07: In preparation for the upcoming parliamentary elections, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is scheduled to initiate the ‘Gaon Chalo Abhiyan’ starting February 8. The campaign aims to raise awareness about the welfare schemes implemented by the government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Jammu and Kashmir.
Ravindra Raina, the BJP President in Jammu and Kashmir, said the BJP will form the government for the third consecutive time.
“From February 08-10, our leaders and workers will interact with people across Jammu and Kashmir and make them aware of welfare schemes launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the Union Territory,” Raina said.
The party has also decided to list down people’s grievances and submit the same to the government.
BJP is making efforts to connect all eligible voters to garner support for the party and ensure triumph in all parliamentary seats of Jammu and Kashmir. Jammu and Kashmir has five parliamentary constituencies for which there seems to be a tough fight between political parties and the polls are likely to be held in April-May this year.
Sources said the BJP in J&K has held a strategy meeting for the Lok Sabha elections. They plan to focus on booths where they were defeated in the last Parliamentary and assembly elections.
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.
On Tuesday, the Lok Sabha also passed the Constitution (Jammu and Kashmir) Scheduled Tribes Order (Amendment) Bill, 2023, granting scheduled tribe status to the Pahari people and other communities in Jammu and Kashmir Union Territory.
The Lok Sabha also passed the Scheduled Castes Order (Amendment) Bill, 2023, which seeks to include the Valmiki community in the Scheduled Caste (SC) list of Jammu and Kashmir. The ST Bill also includes the Gadda Brahman, Koli, and Paddari communities in the ST list of Jammu and Kashmir.
Paharis have been fighting for more than 3 decades for their inclusion in the ST category. During Gaon Chalo Abhiyan, the BJP will try to reach out to people of all these communities and seek their votes in the upcoming elections.
