Assembly polls: J&K voter turnout pumps up BJP

After taking charge in May, PM Narendra Modi has visited J&K at least four times

Update: 2014-11-27 04:15 GMT
BJP President Amit Shah (Photo: PTI/File)

New Delhi: With the unprecedented voter turnout in the first phase of the Assembly elections in J&K, the saffron camp in New Delhi seems all charged up. A section in the BJP claimed the 71 per cent turnout resulted from a “Modi wave” that was sweeping Kashmir.

If the trend continues and this calculation comes true, the BJP hopes to bag at least 10 of the Valley’s 47 seats.

The party is hoping it will get “a minimum” of 30 out of 36 seats in Jammu, and all four Ladakh seats. It is looking at the possibility of creating history by forming a government in J&K for the first time.

Of the state’s total 87 seats, the winner needs at least 44 seats to form the government. In the past, the BJP has always drawn a blank in the Valley, while it has MLAs from Jammu.

Counting in both Jharkhand and J&K will be held on December 23.

After taking charge in May, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has visited J&K at least four times. On December 6 he will be speaking in Srinagar and Anantnag in the Valley, while he will address rallies in Udhampur and Poonch in Jammu on November 28.

As for Jharkhand though the party was talking of a “clean sweep” the factional fight within has become a major cause of concern.  BJP chief Amit Shah has virtually been camping in Jharkhand to sort out the hiccups.

Three top BJP leaders of the state Arjun Munda, Raghuvar Das and Saryu Rai have apparently locked horns over the post of chief ministership. The Munda camp is somewhat wary of the fact if BJP comes to power in Jharkhand it may prop up a non-tribal candidate for the post.

While both Raghuvar Das and Saryu Rai are non-tribals they have been nurturing the ambition of  bagging the top post if the party wins in Jhakrhand.

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