Saffron surge builds in Jammu and Kashmir polls

BJP gaining from welfare push after Article 370 abrogation in J&K

By Manish Anand

New Delhi, September 19: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) appears building strong base in Jammu and Kashmir to stake claims to power in Srinagar. Ground reports suggest a growing acceptance of the BJP even in the Kashmir valley in a few pockets.

“Not emotive issues, but the welfarism of Prime Minister Narendra Modi is trending among the people,” said a senior political observer who gathered a sense of the ongoing poll in the Jammu and Kashmir.

The first phase of the polling in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir witnessed a healthy 61 per cent voters’ turnout yesterday. The first phase polling took place mostly in the South Kashmir districts on Wednesday.

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“Abrogation of Article 370 and Article 35A are now seen as fait accompli. The Muslims in the Kashmir valley believe that both the Constitutional provisions are now relics of the past,” said a senior Srinagar-based political observer.

The ground assessments suggest that the BJP is gaining in the Jammu region. This is despite the fact that the BJP had struggled in the Lok Sabha elections in the Jammu region also as seen in the dip in lesser votes polled.

“Surprisingly, the welfare schemes are at the centre stage of the Jammu and Kashmir elections. The people cutting the religious lines are endorsing the BJP for the gains through the welfare scheme,” he added.

The political observer also stated that lower-income group people among the Muslims now constitute a separate electoral vote base. “The hardliners in the Kashmir valley retain their usual stances. But there is a new class of the low-income people who are now sympathetic to the BJP,” added the Srinagar-based political observer.

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In a span of a few weeks, Sheikh Abdul Rashid alias Engineer Rashid has seen dramatic transformation in his image. “Rashid is now known on the street as a BJP agent,” said the observer.

The BJP’s poll plank in Jammu particularly is focussed on muscular nationalism. Union Minister for Home Affairs Amit Shah is leading the BJP’s poll campaign.

Shah has claimed to have buried terrorism to the abyss that “it will not emerge in seven generations”. His muscular nationalism is trending among the electorate in the Jammu region, added the observer.

The analysts also stressed that the “beneficiary class of the welfare schemes after the abrogation of the Article 370 is the new takeaway from the UT”. Also, the economic gains made through flow of tourism and business interests are boosting the BJP prospects.

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About The Author

Manish Anand

Manish Anand is a senior journalist with more than two decades of hardcore reporting on beats such as Prime Minister’s Office, Parliament, BJP, Congress, Planning Commission, NITI Aayog, and scores of Union Ministries.

His past has been with The New Indian Express, The Asian Age/Deccan Chronicle, and The Statesman.

For about 15 years, Manish was also a regular commentator and host for talks on AIR on foreign affairs.

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