BJP to go solo in upcoming elections

Our Correspondent

Jammu, August 18

Ahead of the Assembly poll in Jammu and Kashmir, the saffron party’s UT chief, Ravinder Raina, has said the party won’t form an alliance before the elections.

Speaking to mediapersons in Jammu, he, however, said talks were on with some probable Independent candidates in the Kashmir Valley, who were ready for an alliance after the elections.

Raina said the BJP was fully prepared for the elections and was expected to announce its first list of candidates soon.

“The BJP won’t have a pre-poll alliance with any party in J&K. We are in talks with eight-10 probable Independent candidates in the Kashmir Valley. If these discussions materialise, we will formulate a strategy to contest the elections jointly,” he said.

He said the party was ready to field its candidates in the Valley to win a majority in the UT. “The BJP will come out victorious in J&K and will form its government,” he said.

The Apni Party and the Democratic Progressive Azad Party (DPAP) had supported the BJP despite no formal alliance during the Lok Sabha poll. The BJP retained its Jammu and Udhampur seats, while it was not able to open its account in the Valley.

Responding to former CM Omar Abdullah’s statement on Article 370, Raina said NC was losing ground in Jammu and Kashmir, which is why he is issuing such remarks.

Abdullah said on Saturday that as its first action after the Assembly polls in the Union Territory, the Jammu and Kashmir House would pass a resolution against the Centre’s decision to revoke Article 370.