With the entry of RSS functionary Ram Madhav as one of the poll in-charges for the J&K Assembly poll, the BJP is banking on campaign by the right wing organisation.
Several rounds of meetings have already taken place between Madhav and senior BJP leaders of J&K. Even when Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi was addressing Congress workers on Thursday, a closed door meeting on the names of probable BJP candidates for the first phase was held between Madhav and BJP leaders in Jammu.
BJP national general secretary (organisation) BL Santosh, Minister and J&K election in-charge G Kishan Reddy, party’s national general secretary Tarun Chugh and other RSS functionaries had attended the meeting.
The discussions also revolved around the campaign strategies, focus areas in the Jammu region and consolidation of Hindu vote bank to repeat the 2014 victory. The BJP was able to win 25 of the 87 seats in the last Assembly poll.
However, with the changed dynamics and purported anger against the BJP due to rising unemployment, inflation and other factors, the saffron party is leaving no stone unturned to win maximum seats, especially in Jammu region.
It has been learnt from reliable sources that Ram Madhav is also gathering inputs from the grassroots leaders of the BJP to finalise a list of probable candidates. He is expected to meet leaders from Rajouri, Poonch, Doda and Kishtwar region where the BJP’s influence has dipped during the past years.
The RSS leader will also take feedback about shortcomings in governance, if any. Madhav will then hold a meeting with the central BJP leadership in coming days.
Sources in the RSS said in the Jammu region, focus would be on Muslim dominated areas that also have significant Hindu population. The BJP had performed well in Rajouri, Doda and Kishtwar districts in 2014. However, the vote percentage of its MPs from Jammu and Udhampur seats fell considerably in the Lok Sabha poll this year.
