Early Times Report
Jammu, May 18: The BJP has officially announced its support for Zafar Iqbal Manhas from the Apni Party in the Anantnag-Rajouri Lok Sabha seat. BJP leaders have started an aggressive campaign for Manhas, aiming to challenge PDP president Mehbooba Mufti, who is also contesting for the seat.
The announcement ended all speculation when the BJP and the Apni Party held a joint rally in the Baflaiz area of Poonch district, Jammu and Kashmir. For the past ten days, BJP leaders have been holding small rallies in Poonch and Rajouri.
This joint rally marked the first time BJP leaders publicly shared the stage with the Apni Party, formally backing Manhas.
Top BJP leaders, including National General Secretary Tarun Chugh, J&K BJP President Ravinder Raina, and former Deputy Chief Minister Dr. Nirmal Singh, have launched an intense campaign in the Poonch and Rajouri districts to gather support for Manhas.
Tarun Chugh urged people to vote against the Abdullahs and Muftis, accusing them of promoting divisive, pro-Pakistan politics. He claimed these leaders had exploited Ja The announcement ended all speculations when the BJP and the Apni Party held a joint rally in the Baflaiz area.
For the first time BJP leaders publicly shared the stage with the Apni Party, formally backing Manhas.
For the past ten days, BJP leaders have been holding small rallies in Poonch and Rajouri.
In the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, the BJP candidate received over 100,000 votes from Poonch and Rajouri.
The BJP's decision to support Manhas is seen as a major boost for the Apni Party. In the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, the BJP candidate received over 100,000 votes from Poonch and Rajouri. Now, the BJP is working hard to transfer its loyal voters to Manhas. The party expects significant support from Paharis in these regions. In the 2019 elections, BJP candidate Jugal Kishore Sharma received substantial votes from Poonch and Rajouri constituencies. For example, he got 59,413 votes from Nowshera and 10,360 votes from Darhal.
Mehbooba Mufti is constesting for the Anantnag-Rajouri seat, making the contest three-sided.
Previously, the main contenders were seen as Mehbooba Mufti from PDP and Mian Altaf from the National Conference. The BJP's support for Manhas has changed the dynamics of the race.
The Anantnag-Rajouri constituency will vote on May 25, delayed from its original May 7 date due to bad weather. Mehbooba Mufti, her daughter Iltija Mufti, and other candidates are vigorously campaigning across Jammu and Kashmir. |
