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| BJP-Cong locked in straight contest, voter turnout key deciding factor | | Jammu-Poonch Lok Sabha elections | | *PDP, Labha Ram likely to act 'spoilers'
Syed Junaid Hashmi
Jammu, Mar 21: Congress and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) are in straight contest on Jammu-Poonch Parliamentary constituency.
Congress which has repeated sitting Member Parliament (MP) Madan Lal Sharma for the third time has to battle anti-incumbency and sulking public mood while BJP which has fielded it's state President Jugal Kishore is banking heavily on the charisma of its Prime Ministerial nominee Narendra Modi. Their belief is that the purported Modi wave would fetch them heavy votes in 13 constituencies of Jammu and Samba districts, which together account for 64.93 percent of total votes.
BJP is heavily concentrating on door to door campaign alongwith use of modern technology including Facebook, Twitter and Whatsup to reach out to its electorate. Sources said that it is in addition to the network of Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh (RSS) which has been working overnight to ensure heavy voting by monitoring entire campaign of BJP in all the 20 constituencies of Jammu-Poonch. The entire cadre of RSS is involved in supplementing efforts of the ordinary workers of BJP.
The workers had fanned out in the entire constituency even before the name of the candidate was announced, said a top RSS man in Jammu. He added that onus is on winning the seat and increasing the number of BJP in the Lok Sabha so that a strong and stable Government headed by Narendra Modi comes in New Delhi. "We are focussed on increasing voting percentage and not in holding huge rallies and meetings, which essentially do not give results on the expected lines. Higher voter turnout would ensure victory of BJP candidate," added the worker.
On the contrary, Congress whose candidate Madan Lal Sharma is believed to be formidable force in Jammu region is facing multiple problems. Apart from anti-incumbency and PDP fielding a local candidate Yashpal Sharma, resentment with the sitting MLAs and MLCs, some of whom have even remained Ministers has made the task difficult for Congress. Sources said that a strategy had been devised to counter this, but with Congress Ministers, MLAs and MLCs playing truant from their respective constituencies, things are falling around.
Chairman of Campaign Committee and Minister for PHE Sham Lal Sharma has already taken up the issue with JKPPC President Prof. Saif-ud-Din Soz and ex-Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad, said the sources. They added that axe is likely to fall on those who are not adhering to directions of campaign committee chief. They further said that despite knowing well that election is decisive battle where those with better coordination and ammunition win, Congress leaders prefer Jammu over remaining stationed in their constituencies and campaigning aggressively.
This is despite party's clear cut direction of remaining stationed in their respective constituencies and coordinating with NC to ensure complete transfer of vote. In sharp contrast to this, Congress's ally National Conference (NC) has already constituted committees and even started campaign in Rajouri-Poonch Lok Sabha constituency by holding public meetings. Their leaders are stationed at the headquarters.
"Despite knowing that it is mother of all the elections, our leaders are callous and yet to take the campaign seriously. They are unable to see the magnitude of work that is needed to be done to make Congress victorious. Modi wave is sweeping across north India. We do have some comfort here but that does not mean, we should be negligent and callous. Much work is to be done," said a Congress leader.
He added that 20 constituencies is a huge area. "We have to ensure lead in Jammu and Samba districts where the effect of Modi wave is highest in urban centres and bare minimal in the rural pockets," said an ex-Parliamentarian while adding that Congress should wake from deep slumber or otherwise it would be too late. He maintained that Yashpal Sharma of PDP and Labha Rama Gandhi of Refugee Front are the two candidates who would act spoiler for both BJP and Congress by eating out into their respective vote banks. "The votes which would go into the kitty of these two candidates would make the contest interesting between Jugal Kishore Sharma and Madan Lal Sharma. Whatever the results, it would be a keenly fought election," said the ex-Parliamentarian who is keeping close eye on elections. |
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