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| BJP leaders fear backlash in forthcoming ULB, Panchayat polls | | | Early Times Report
Jammu, Aug 30: As the ongoing agitation against electricity smart meters and Sarore Toll Plaza has snowballed into a big issue the local unit of BJP is fearing a backlash in the upcoming Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) and Panchayat elections in the Union Territory.
Although BJP leaders are trying to present a brave face after the unprecedented Jammu Bandh on August 26, some leaders are of the view that strong anger is brewing among residents of the Jammu region against the party.
Highly placed sources said that an unofficial meeting of the senior leaders was held to review the situation after a “successful” bandh of the Chamber of Commerce and Industries (CCI).
“During the meeting, all participants were unanimous that a huge chunk of the population is annoyed with the party on the issue of smart meters and Sarore Toll Plaza as the leadership has failed to satisfy the masses”, a source said and revealed that leaders cautioned that holding ULBs and Panchayat elections at this juncture would be proved disastrous for the party.
On the condition of anonymity, a senior BJP leader told The Early Times that party leadership mishandled the issue of electricity smart meters and Sarore Toll Plaza. “Instead of presenting a true picture before the masses, the incumbent leadership indulged into deceitful tactics to befool the people”, he said and admitted that the party would face the wrath of the people in the ULBs and Panchayat elections.
Notably, initiating the process to conduct the maiden ULB elections in the Union Territory, the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of Jammu and Kashmir has already ordered a special revision of electoral rolls for Srinagar and Jammu municipal corporations.
A public notice has already been issued regarding forthcoming ULB elections in Jammu and Kashmir. The last general elections to the Municipal Corporations were held in September-October 2018 and the term of these bodies shall expire in November 2023.
The coming ULB elections will be the first electoral test for the party in Jammu and Kashmir after the abrogation of Article 370 and the bifurcation of the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir into the Union Territories (UTs). The urban local bodies elections were held in four phases from October 8-16 in 2018 after a gap of 13 years.
The BJP had emerged as a major political force in Jammu and Kashmir winning 212 Wards in Jammu province and 100 in Kashmir.
The party got the majority in 13 Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) in Jammu including the prestigious Jammu Municipal Corporation (JMC), emerged as the single largest party in eight other Committees, and won 11 Municipalities in Kashmir. The BJP had, for the first time, managed to win seats in Kashmir councils and committees. |
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