Ex-militants campaign for NC, PDP in JK Assembly elections: Ram Madhav | Mint

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) national general secretary Ram Madhav has accused the National Conference (NC) and the People's Democratic Party (PDP) of getting support from former militants for the upcoming elections in Jammu and Kashmir. Madhav said the two parties want to take the Union Territory back to the “difficult” days.

“I have information that ex-militants are openly campaigning for the NC and PDP candidates. The people will have to defeat the parties that want to take Jammu and Kashmir back to the bad days and support a new leadership that wants peace and progress,” Madhav told reporters on September 4, referring to the Abdullahs and Muftis.

Madhav, who is the party in-charge of Jammu and Kashmir, said the two families should be shown the door. Madhav accompanied the party's candidate from Lal Chowk constituency, Aijaz Hussain, during the filing of nominations.

Jammu and Kashmir will vote for its 90-member assembly in three phases. While the first phase of voting in Jammu and Kashmir is scheduled for September 18, the other two rounds will be held on September 25 and October 1. The counting of votes will take place on October 8.

So far, the BJP has announced the names of 51 candidates from its four lists for the 90-member Jammu and Kashmir Assembly.

Referring to the election manifestos released by the NC and the PDP promising restoration of Article 370 and state sovereignty, resolution of the Kashmir issue and talks with Pakistan, Madhav said the two regional parties want to take Jammu and Kashmir back to the old, troubled days.

“I would like to remind the people of JK that the NC, PDP and others have issued manifestos that will take JK back to old, troubled days,” he said, adding that new parties and leaders will emerge in the Kashmir Valley while in the Jammu region, the BJP will emerge as a representative of peace and development. He said that a new government led by the BJP will be formed in the UT.

In the last Jammu and Kashmir elections in 2014, the BJP managed to win 25 seats, all from Jammu. The saffron party failed to open a bank account in Kashmir. After delimitation, the Kashmir region of the UT has 47 seats, while Jammu has 43.

Both the NC and the PDP hit back at Madhav for his allegations. The PDP led by Mehbooba Mufti said the BJP has no right to preach as a majority of its so-called cadre in Kashmir consists of surrendered militants. The NC said Madhav's remarks indicated that the BJP was scared of facing the elections in Jammu and Kashmir.

The NC and the PDP are allies in the opposition bloc INDIA at the national level, but rivals in Jammu and Kashmir.

When asked about the many young faces contesting the elections, the BJP leader said this is the strategy of the people of Jammu and Kashmir as they want a new leader.

“A lot of youth are coming forward and they should be supported. This state was in the grip of two families, those two families should be thrown out. This state should get rid of those families,” he said, referring to the families of NC president Farooq Abdullah and PDP leader Mehbooba Mufti.

Madhav claimed that the BJP would emerge as the single largest party, but “if such a situation arises, we will discuss it later”.

He also welcomed the entry of former members of the banned Jamaat-e-Islami (JeI) into the electoral fray. “There is room for everyone in a democracy. We welcome anyone who wants to come forward to participate in elections through democracy. But no one should contest the elections with the support of terrorists and ex-militants. The elections will be held peacefully and in a transparent manner. That is the assurance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, just as the parliamentary elections were conducted in a transparent manner,” he said.

Madhav said the Home Minister will address an election rally in Jammu region on September 6. “After that, the Prime Minister and other leaders will also visit,” he said.