Tasavur Mushtaq
SRINAGAR
Sopore, one of the four assembly segments of valley which BJP desperately wanted to have to accomplish ‘Mission 44 Plus’ has come up with a surprise. In a significant move, the BJP has not fielded any candidate from north Kashmir’s volatile Sopore assembly segment, which would go to polls in the third phase on December 9.
Bastion and native place of Syed Ali Geelani, Sopore, this time was considered to be the ‘soft target’ of BJP to make a mark of BJP in valley among few other seats due to the high count of migrant Kashmiri Pandits voters and expected low voter turnout due the boycott call by separatists
But final list suggest that there is no BJP candidate from restive town of North Kashmir. What made BJP to skip this important ‘conquerable’ segment is a big question.
People who watch politics of North Kashmir closely told Kashmir Life on condition of anonymity that ‘BJP’s decision not to field any candidate from Sopore is just to help Peoples Conference led by Sajjad Gani Lone.”
While commenting about the development, Ramesh Arora BJP’s state vice president and in-charge Kashmir affairs said that they have decided not to field any candidate in certain constituencies “As we may enter into post poll alliance with some parties.”
It is believed that this important development took place after Sajjad Lone met Narendra Modi in New Delhi.
“After Sajjad met Modi, the BJP leaders were informed for the sake of presence only few candidates should fight from north Kashmir,” senior politician on condition of anonymity told Kashmir Life
Earlier it was presumed that if people in Sopore would resort to boycott call of separatists, the seat would likely go in BJP’s kitty as there is significant number of migrant voters.
The heat of this ‘wave’ was even felt by NC legislator and its candidate for Sopore constituency, Mohammad Ashraf Ganaie, who made fervent appeal to Syed Ali Geelani to withdraw his call for election boycott.
Ganaie while pleading said that, “I appeal to Geelani sahab to reconsider his boycott call in Sopore. He is an influential leader and people support him. Major portions of Sopore will boycott elections on his call.”
So if this was the scenario, what made BJP to skip despite being very vocal about their ‘mission 44 plus’. Sources told Kashmir Life that there is sort of ‘mutual understanding’ between BJP and PC to have ‘post poll alliance’
“If BJP has to be the part of the next government in Jammu and Kashmir then they have to leave few seats for its people who are likely to support them after elections are over,” said a senior scribe. “And Sajjad lone’s party is first bet of Modi,” he added.
