SRINAGAR: Ravinder Raina, the President of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Jammu and Kashmir, declared on Sunday that his party would lend support to like-minded political entities in the Kashmir Valley, while cautioning against affiliating with the Congress.
Asserting confidence in BJP’s electoral prospects, Raina confidently predicted victories on both the Jammu and Udhampur Lok Sabha seats.
Speaking to the media in Srinagar, Raina emphasized BJP’s strong rapport with other sympathetic parties in the Kashmir Valley. “We have established good connections with like-minded groups in the region,” he affirmed.
Raina further stated, “We are actively considering extending our support to deserving candidates after thorough consultations with our party workers.”
When pressed about which parties BJP considers allies in Kashmir, Raina replied, “There are several parties that exhibit genuine concern for the people. Our discussions with party workers will determine the outcome.” Responding to queries about BJP’s stance on the deferment of elections for the Anantnag-Rajouri seat, Raina deferred to the Election Commission of India (ECI), indicating that the decision rested with them. He highlighted the challenges posed by inclement weather, particularly the closure of the lone Mughal road connecting Anantnag in Kashmir with Rajouri and Poonch districts in Jammu due to heavy snowfall.
Raina mentioned that the ECI had sought a report from the Jammu and Kashmir government on the matter, awaiting their decision.
Regarding Prime Minister Modi’s recent remarks on the “Mangal Sutra,” Raina criticized the Congress, labeling it as a party embroiled in corruption scandals. “Congress has a history of mismanagement and corruption. It is advisable to steer clear of the Congress,” he cautioned.
Raina’s statements underscore BJP’s strategic approach to forging alliances in the politically sensitive Kashmir Valley while signaling their firm stance against the Congress amid ongoing electoral dynamics.