| Making inroads into Valley: BJP woo PC | | Nadda, Sajjad meet behind closed doors | | Early Times Report
SRINAGAR, July 25: In a bid to penetrate into Valley on way to its mission 44+ in the forthcoming Assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir, BJP is mulling a strategic alliance with Peoples Conference of Sajjad Lone. Party's national general secretary and Rajya Sabha member J P Nadda called on Peoples Conference chairman Sajjad Gani Lone to explore possibilities of forging joint front.
Considering the fact that BJP is desperate to gain ground in the Kashmir valley, political commentators are assigning lot of importance to the meeting as Lone is considered to have a strong footing in north Kashmir's Kupwara district.
Official sources in BJP confirmed the meeting between the two leaders, but refused to divulge the agenda of the meeting. With this meeting, BJP has however, made it clear that it has a definite plan with regards to Valley as without gaining substantial foothold in the Valley, it would be impossible for it to achieve its much hyped mission 44+.
BJP has in the meanwhile succeeded in shedding its tag of being predominantly a Hindu party by roping in couple of Muslim faces in its fold of late. Heena Bhat, a daughter of former Member of Parliament and senior politician, Mohammad Shafi Bhat and former Inspector General of Police, Farooq Khan are two such names which can help BJP shed many a mental blocks within Muslim dominated valley and several areas of Jammu province as well.
Though what transpired between Nadda and Lone is not known, it is being presumed that alliance with BJP would be a hard bullet to crack for Sajjad Lone, who has failed to extend his influence beyond Kupwara after deciding to shed tag of separatist and take a dip into mainstream politics. However, if the alliance materializes, BJP would be able to transcend its traditional image painted by its adversaries across the country and benefit it immensely.
Meanwhile, it has been reliably learnt that BJP is eyeing at least 5 seats from the valley to fulfill its mission 44+. |
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