NC, PDP taught a lesson, Satisfied with 4% voter turnout: Ram Madhav

Training guns at National Conference (NC) and People’s Democratic Party (PDP) for criticizing low voter turnout in recently held municipal polls, BJP General Secretary Ram Madhav on Wednesday said many leaders from these parties were elected as Members of Parliament with fewer votes.
“We are very happy and satisfied. Our candidates have won in the valley. Even 4 percent votes matters for us,” Madhav said while felicitating the winning candidates of party at a function here.
He accused NC and PDP of threatening people and held them responsible for low voting percentage in the recently concluded Urban Local Bodies (ULB) elections.
“Regional parties were threatening people and had created a fear psychosis among the people. Attempts were also made for not holding municipal polls but authorities went ahead with the elections. Both the parties, which boycotted the polls, have been taught a lesson now,” he said.
“These parties want family rule here and they don’t want the leadership to grow at grass root level,” he said.
Madhav said they are hopeful about peoples’ participation in upcoming Panchayat polls.
“I congratulate our leader, who showed courage and made it possible for the party to win 106 seats in Kashmir. Victory in Kashmir was very important for our party,” he said.
Madhav said every Panchayat would get funds starting from Rs 20 lakhs to 1 crore.
“We will ensure transfer of funds directly to elected Panchs and Sarpanchs. Though the election was contested on a non-party basis, we have to ensure that good candidates come up to work for the development at grass root level,” he said.
Madhav alleged that NC and PDP had fielded their proxy candidates in municipal polls. “Parties, who boycotted polls, came from the backdoor by fielding their proxy candidates. Still, I congratulate them for their participation in polls”.
He said Prime Ministers Narendra Modi was very happy to see party’ performance in ULB polls. “When I told Modi that our party scored a century in Kashmir, he was very happy.”
“Our victory is due to active participation of our workers in Jammu and Kashmir, especially in the Valley. Victory in Kashmir is very important for our party,” he said.
Madhav said BJP would make the Panchayat system more strong in Kashmir.
“We will introduce three-tier Panchayat system in the State as well,” he added.

Coming down heavily on the National Conference (NC) and former ally Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), BJP national general secretary Ram Madhav said on Wednesday that the two state-based parties had been “taught a lesson” in the recent municipal elections. He also accused the “dynastic” NC and PDP of being an impediment towards rise in leadership at the grassroots.
“Pressure was exerted not to hold municipal polls by the political parties (NC and PDP)… but the authorities went ahead. These two parties didn’t want elections but they have been taught a lesson. The victory in Kashmir is very important for us. Their leaders have become MPs through two per cent voting in the past and are now raising questions about a low turnout. We want the turnout to increase in future and that is why we were in favour of elections. These parties have family rule… they don’t want leaders from the grass-roots level,” Madhav told the BJP candidates, who won during the recent civic polls, at a function here.

The BJP general secretary said he was in the city mainly to congratulate the winning candidates as they had exhibited courage to contest the recent municipal polls despite security issues. He said the Centre was working towards a mechanism to ensure direct funding to the elected councillors.

“Prime Minister Narendra Modi was happy when I told him that we had scored a century in Kashmir. We will ensure direct funding so that they (councillors) don’t have to be dependent on the state authorities. Though the upcoming panchayat elections are being held on a non-party basis, we have to ensure good candidates contest them,” Madhav said.

Saffron party to focus on development & funds, says Raina
Elated over the party’s first electoral win in the Valley, BJP state president Ravinder Raina said on Wednesday that the lotus (BJP’s poll symbol) had bloomed from the Red Fort to Lal Chowk. “As many as 106 lotuses have bloomed across Kashmir. Eight to 10 municipalities will have party’s chairmen. There was a time when the name of the BJP was used to scare people but now the lotus has bloomed from Lal Qila to Lal Chowk. Our mission will be development and to ensure abundant and direct funding,” he said.
On the speculation over the appointment of the mayor in Srinagar, Raina said it would be decided in a democratic way. “We want educated and good people should come forward. We will decide in a democratic manner. Those who have the numbers will have the mayor,” he said.
Raina also claimed that 50 candidates were supported by the BJP in the municipal elections in the Valley. When asked about government formation, Raina said as of now the party’s focus was on the panchayat elections.

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