Saffron party banking on six Muslim candidates in three districts
The BJP is banking on six of its Muslim candidates out of a total of 11 in three districts of the Jammu region where the second phase of the Assembly elections will be held on September 25.
The focus of all political parties has now shifted to the crucial second phase of the Assembly elections for which polling will be held in the Pir Panjal region of Rajouri and Poonch, besides Reasi district of the Jammu division.
Some constituencies in the Kashmir region will also go to the polls on September 25. There is a tug of war between the NC, BJP, PDP and the Congress in eight constituencies of Rajouri and Poonch. These parties are leaving no stone unturned to make a mark in the region with a substantial population of Gujjar community members.
The NC is trying to repeat its magic of the Lok Sabha elections where its candidate and spiritual leader Mian Altaf won from the Anantnag constituency with a comfortable margin despite pleas by the BJP to the Pahari voters reminding them of the reservation given to them by the Centre early this year.
PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti has started her tour to Rajouri and Poonch districts. She will hold rallies in the twin districts to align Muslim vote bank with her. It is important to mention here that Mufti lost the LS polls from the Anantnag constituency, comprising of Rajouri and Poonch.
While the NC and the PDP are focusing on Muslim-dominated areas, the BJP is trying to woo Hindu voters in both districts. Besides, the BJP is trying to garner the Muslim vote for which it has given ticket to three prominent leaders who switched their allegiance to the saffron party.
Chowdhary Zulfikar Ali, who switched to the BJP from the Apni Party, has been fielded from Budhal, former PDP leader Murtaza Khan has been given the BJP ticket from Mendhar and former Congress leader Choudhary Abdul Ghani will contest the elections from Poonch Haveli. Other Muslim candidates of the BJP include Mohd Akram from Gulabgarh, Mushtaq Ahmed Shah Bukhari from Surankote and Mohd Iqbal Malik from Thanamandi.
A total of six seats in the three districts are reserved for STs. BJP UT chief Ravinder Raina is contesting from Nowshera and is camping in the area. Rajouri also has a new constituency, Thannamandi, which was created after delimitation in 2022.
ST reserved seats in Rajouri include Budhal, Rajouri and Thanamandi, while Mendhar and Surankote are reserved in Poonch.
