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| Close contest building between PDP, BJP on Jammu LS seats | | | Bashir Assad
Jammu, Jan 8: A close but straight contest is building between BJP and Peoples Democratic Party in Jammu-Poonch Parliamentary constituency, however, owing to its weak candidate for Udhampur- Doda constituency the opposition may finish at number 3.
It will be for the first time that Jammu-Poonch Parliamentary constituency may witness a straight contest between PDP and BJP and Congress according to political observers is likely to secure 3rd position.
Observers believe that given the Modi factor the BJP is upbeat and the mood of the public in Jammu district is in favour of the BJP-at least for Lok Sabha elections. They attribute this dramatic surge of BJP in the region to its Prime Ministerial candidate, Narendra Modi on one hand and non-performance of Congress party which has been sharing power in the state since 2002.
Observers believe that BJP is concentrating on two Lok Sabha seats of the Jammu region and one seat of Ladakh. In two successive Lok Sabha elections of 1998 and 1999, BJP had won two parliamentary seats from the Jammu province. So, the party has been working overtime to repeat that performance and Modi factor seems to be working for that party.
"There is a complete polarized situation in the region, Hindu votes may go enmas to BJP while PDP will sweep Muslim votes across the region," said a political observer today. Interestingly in 2009 Lok Sabha elections, both PDP and BJP had failed to open their accounts but this time prospects are bright for both. "National Conference has lost its support base both among Muslims and Hindus equally in Jammu region so PDP has emerged as an alternative.
As for Jammu-Poonch seat is concerned PDP has fielded Yashpal Sharma who is considered to be the most potential candidate and enjoys good repute among both the communities. It is likely that he may get votes from Hindu community especially those of refugees and if the local party leaders help him sincerely, he can even turn the tables in favour of his party.
PDP insiders believe that after South Kashmir Parliamentary constituency in Kashmir region, the party has bright chances of winning the Jammu-Poonch constituency.
They said the party had also better chances in Udhampur-Doda constituency, had it decided to field a reputed candidate from that constituency.
"The party has committed a blunder by fielding a weak and little known candidate, it would have been appropriate for them to field the former bureaucrat Mehboob Iqbal from Udhampur-Doda constituency because he has worked in the region as Deputy Commissioner and is respectable for all," a party insider told Early Times on the condition of not to be named.
He said Mehboob Iqbal is known for his secular credentials and has credibility among the people of both the communities. "See the Muslims of Chenab region will never vote for Choudhary Lal Singh of Congress for his anti-Muslim utterances and Iqbal would have been the best bet to translate Muslim votes," he said. A senior journalist however, said the Congress in anyway cannot retain the seat and the contest is going to be between BJP and PDP with the former having edge on latter.
Meanwhile, the Jammu-Poonch Lok Sabha seat is being eyed by BJP state president Jugal Kishore Sharma and Jammu East MLA Ashok Khajuria. As Jugal Kishore has proved his potential by winning two successive Assembly elections from the Nagrota segment, he is being considered the front runner for this Lok Sabha seat. He is also in the good books of the Sangh Parivar.
For the Udhampur-Doda seat, senior leader Nirmal Singh is the front runner because he had lost 2009 Lok Sabha elections by a narrow margin due to "non-cooperative" attitude of some party MLAs. Chief spokesman of the State BJP Jatinder Singh and former State president Shamsher Singh Manhas are also staking their claim on this seat. |
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