Assembly Polls
PS BALI
Jammu, Nov 17: Turning more strategic to realize ‘Mission 44+’ in the state, the Bhartiya Janta Party (BJP) has doubled the number of Muslim candidates in the Jammu region of the state to ensure its win in constituencies having maximum majority community population.
While the party had last time fielded only 3 Muslim candidates in Jammu region, this time it has doubled the number and pitched six candidates from majority community across the region.
Muslim candidates now constitute 16.66 per cent of the total candidates fielded in Jammu region by the BJP, as against 8.33 per cent in 2008.
Party insiders told Greater Kashmir that unlike previous polls, this time BJP has come up with a new plan to ‘bait new faces to garner more votes’.
They said that the party has fielded new candidates as per their affiliations, especially in the Muslim dominated regions.
Party insiders added that in 2008, three Muslim candidates in Jammu region from Mendhar, Doda and Gulabgarh had lost with huge margins due to their ‘reticent’ approach, but now the party has kept these minute things in consideration and is fielding candidates with strong public support.
Mohammad Alyas Khan from Mendhar has been replaced by another Muslim candidate, Zulfikar Ali Pathan. However, party has replaced two Muslim candidates from Doda and Gulabgarh with Hindu candidates.
From Doda, Ishtiaq Ahmad Wani has been replaced by Shakti Parihar, whereas Gulabgarh candidate, Mohammad Ismail has been replaced by Pradeep Singh.
Five new Muslim faces of BJP in the fray include Abdul Ghani Kohli, who has replaced Bharat Bushan Vaid in Kalakote, Talib Hussain has replaced Vibodh Gupta in Rajouri, Shaukat Deng has replaced Rajeev Rajput in Banihal, Tariq Keen has replaced Shakti Raj in Inderwal, besides Taj Mohammed Khan will contest from Surankote.
Party sources further shared that owing to public attachment of these people, BJP has given mandate to these new faces against senior members.
Talking to Greater Kashmir, BJP state secretary and incharge, Muslim and Tribals, Ghulam Ali Khatana said that the party has never thought about giving mandate on the basis of religious affiliations.
“We are following strong line of secularism and all our candidates are selected by the state and central committees, keeping their public affiliations in consideration,” he said, adding that BJP believes in democracy and encourages all those who desire to make nation and state ‘corruption and dynastic rule free’.
“Party keeps on reshuffling candidates, depending upon their previous performance. Indeed it is good sign to have candidates from all sections of the society, because democracy is for all and BJP strives to support it,” Khatana maintained.
Pertinently the 87 seats will go to polls on November 25 and the counting is on December 23.
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