BJP to contest alone, form stable govt with friends: Madhav

KT NEWS SERVICE. Dated: 1/21/2019 12:56:47 PM

JAMMU, Jan 20: In an oblique hint at post-poll alliance with People’s Conference, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) general secretary Ram Madhav Sunday stated that the party was likely to contest alone in the assembly polls yet would “form a stable government with the help of some friends later.”
While addressing media here, he, however, dismissed reports that his party was opposing early assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir. In an oblique dig at erstwhile partner PDP, he claimed some other parties wanted the polls to be deferred as they feared losing.
Asked about the PDP expelling former minister Altaf Bukhari, Madhav said, “I don't want to talk about internal matters of another political party, but I must underscore one point here that he is the same leader who was projected as the chief minister of the combined opposition when they (PDP, Congress and National Conference) were trying to form the government in the state just a couple of months ago.”
Regarding reports about BJP not ready for assembly elections, Madhav said, “There is no truth in the rumours being spread that the BJP is not in favour of early assembly elections. Our party would most likely contest alone in the Assembly elections but we would form a stable government in the state with help of some friends later. We will field candidates for all the seats in the state. At the same time, there is little possibility of a pre-poll alliance with any party.” “I am confident that the BJP will emerge as the largest single party after the election,” he said.
Madhav said, “Due to the special circumstances in the state, the BJP does not have any hesitation in joining hands with other parties to form a government in Jammu and Kashmir.”
Going into the background of his party's alliance with the PDP after the 2014 Assembly elections, he said, “After 2014 elections we formed an alliance with the PDP based on a Common Minimum Programme.” “After elections we formed an alliance, but today again the BJP is going it alone in the elections,” he said.
Referring to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's forthcoming visit to Jammu, Ladakh and the Kashmir valley on February 3, he said Modi would start the BJP's campaign for Lok Sabha and assembly polls in the state.
“The BJP is ready for the Assembly polls in the state. It is up to the Election Commission to decide whether the two polls are held together or separately,” he said. “Rumours are doing the rounds that the BJP doesn't want Assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir and other parties are ready. But it's the other way round. I don't want to name anybody, but there are some parties that believe that if elections are held today they will be doomed. But we are ready, let that be clear,” Madhav said.
“While the parliamentary elections are scheduled for April-May, the BJP is ready for the assembly polls in the state as well. It is up to the Election Commission to decide whether the two polls are held together or separately,” Madhav said.
The Election Commission had in November last said fresh elections in Jammu and Kashmir would be held within the next six months. The state is currently under President's rule.
Speaking about rehabilitation of Kashmiri Pandits, Madhav said the BJP had prepared a roadmap for the community's return and rehabilitation and it will be implemented only when the situation in the Valley turns conducive.
“We had identified land at five places in the Valley for pandit townships..but due to various reasons, it could not materialize, the biggest being the prevailing security situation in the Valley,” he said.
The BJP leader said the party was bound by its promise to Kashmiri Pandits and “when the situation improves, it will take the community's leadership into confidence and move forward.”
Asked about the problems being faced by West Pakistan refugees in getting the benefits of a rehabilitation package announced by the Centre, Madhav said every attempt would be made to address any difficulty faced by the community.
“'We will ensure that the refugees get relief and will look into the procedure to make it easy for them as we did in the case of displaced people from Pakistan-occupied Kashmir,” he said.

 

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