Early Times Report
jammu, June 21: As ruling BJP stayed away from direct canvassing for its ally and Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti for the Anantnag by-poll tomorrow, the party is learnt to have galvanized full support through its displaced cell during the past few days in favour of PDP. Congress and NC too stimulated their minority cells to woo the voters of the community from this constituency, which stand highest of all the constituencies across the Kashmir Valley.
Sources within BJP said even though BJP's support for PDP for this by-poll was explicit, the party did not go for canvassing openly in the camp and non camp areas of Jammu for a reason. Since NC and Congress had build up the propaganda and attacked PDP while canvassing that vote in favour of this party would amount to voting for RSS, the BJP chose to stay away from openly campaigning and canvassing as it would have proved damaging, in negative voting for the PDP, said the sources. However, party has been trying to mobilize the potential voters who have registered themselves this time through M form procedure, sources said indicating that a good number of party vote would be cast in favour of Mehbooba Mufti.
Amid an unenthusiastic environment, a day before polling for Anantnag Assembly constituency, NC leaders today also reminded the families in Jagati, a township where majority of Kashmiri Pandits dwell in Jammu, what steps National Conference had taken to ameliorate the sufferings of the community when the party was in power. Ironically, at a time when the High command of NC and its Kashmir based senior leaders are opposing resettlement of Kashmiri Pandits in Kashmir Valley, ex MLC Vijay Bakaya tried to woo and impress the KP voters in the township saying NC has always strived for betterment of the community besides ensuring harmony between various segments and communities of the state. Therefore, they (KP Voters) should realize the need for strengthening the party , said the NC leader while addressing a meeting, exhorting the community members to cast vote in favour of NC candidate in the byepoll for Anantnag constituency tomorrow. Prior to this, the minority cell leaders of the party highlighted lack of basic facilities, besides irksome electricity, water supply in the township in front of the senior leaders who are relentlessly seeking votes of the community in camp and non camp areas. But so far, the KP voters have shown neither any positive response nor excitement for the byepoll to this constituency even as all the parties have trying to translate their strength towards their candidates, no matter the numbers are small. Though the number of voter number has increased this time in comparison to 2014 with registration of new voters, the enthusiasm is missing this time. |
