‘BJP will emerge the largest party’
JAMMU, Oct 3: Maintaining that Bharatiya Janata Party wants Jammu Centric Government in J&K this time, party senior leader and Incharge elections of the UT, Ram Madhav today exuded confidence that his party will emerge as largest party after the declaration of results of Assembly elections in the UT on October 8.
Madhav also said that National Conference (NC) Congress and People’s Democratic Party (PDP) together could not surpass the BJP’s number of seats which will it get from the UT this time.
In an interview to a news channel, Madhav said BJP which is fighting elections on all 43 seats from Jammu region will completely sweep the elections in the region. Besides, the party which has fielded 19 candidates from Kashmir valley will give a pleasant and historic result from there also, he added.
He said that his party wants that this time there should be a Jammu centric Government in the UT of J&K.
The BJP senior leader said that the party fielded only 19 candidates from the Valley as it wanted to put strong and capable candidates so we did not contest all the 47 seats of Kashmir. “We will have a surprising first ever win from one of the constituencies of the Valley this time and on October 8 you will get a surprising result from Kashmir also’’, he declared.
In reply to a question with which party BJP will align for formation of Government post October 8, Madhav said “I don’t want to talk on post October 8 scenario at this juncture,. We hope to get good number of seats from Jammu region,’’ he added.
He said there will be a fractured mandate from the Valley.
National Conference, Congress and People’s Democratic Party (PDP) together can’t cross the magic figure. There are other parties like Awami Ittehad Party (AIP) of Engineer Rashid, People’s Conference (PC) of Sajjad Lone and Independents. There are dissidents from NC and PDP in the fray also and the scenario will be totally different after the outcome of election results on October 8, he added.
Madhav said “I am telling NC along with its alliance partner Congress and even with PDP will not be able to get half way mark, adding the real action will start after results are out on October 8.’’
In response to another question that he was brought to play a crucial role in J&K politics, Madhav said not even me but the Prime Minister, Home Minister and every one will be involved in Government formation after results are out.
The BJP leader said “We want a Jammu centric Government this time’’ while responding to a question that will they (BJP) install a Chief Minister from Kashmir this time also. “Formation of a Jammu-Centric Government is the sentiment of the people but for that a required number is needed’’, he added.
In reply to another question that he has been an expert on Kashmir affairs, Madhav said that he has dealt Kashmir since in Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) earlier. “Kashmir needs to be dealt with large heartedness and open mind. We have to be very accommodative while dealing with Kashmir,’’ he added.
When asked that Kashmiris have opposed the abrogation of Article 370, Madhav said Kashmiris openly praise the development agenda of PM Narendra Modi. “Most of them (Kashmiris) don’t want 370 back and they are happy with the PM’s development process. This can be gauged from the social media messages of Kashmiri people’’, he added.
He said National Conference (NC) has said in its manifesto that it will restore Article 370 but Home Minister Amit Shah made it clear that no power can bring it back, he added.
On restoration of Statehood to J&K, he said the Congress has promised in its manifesto that it will restore Statehood.
When they came to know that it is the Union Government which can restore the Statehood to J&K, they changed their stance saying they will exert pressure on Government regarding restoration of Statehood.
When asked that will the J&K be given the same status which the Delhi State has, Madhav said what powers the State will get will be decided by the Parliament as Congress and opposition parties have good number of members in Parliament, they can debate it there and decide it, he added.
