SRINAGAR: Jammu and Kashmir BJP president Ravinder Raina reiterated that the party is “prepared for assembly elections”.
Ravinder Raina said, “Our party is ready for elections. The organisational membership drive is also on. We had already agreed for assembly polls to be simultaneous with Lok Sabha. However, police and civil administration had then expressed apprehension over security arrangements”.
Thirteen core group leaders from the state have arrived in Delhi for a meeting with senior leadership. Interestingly, the last such crucial meeting in Delhi was in June 2018 after which the BJP pulled out of the alliance with the Mehbooba Mufti-led PDP.
Meanwhile, deployment of additional troops and speculation over abrogation of J&K’s special status turned the valley into a political battleground.
Peoples Democratic Party chief Mehbooba Mufti and National Conference leader Omar Abdullah have questioned the measures and criticised the Centre.
On Article 35A or special status 370, Raina said, “Women have suffered under these articles. Gujjar-Bakerwals have been discriminated against. Refugees, especially Kashmiri Pandits suffered. So an abrogation of special status will only panic Mufti and Abdullah and nobody else.” (PTK)
