Aijaz Hussain gives BJP its maiden victory in Valley

Logo: DDC elections

We alone can show the way

“Despite negative propaganda by our rivals, people reposed faith in Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his governance. The results show that people of J&K have accepted that the BJP alone can show the way and save them from the clutches of dynastic politics,” Abhijeet Jastrotia, J&K BJP spokesman

Vibha Sharma

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, December 22

The BJP today registered three maiden wins in the Valley in the District Development Council (DDC) elections.

While the Jammu results wwere “expected”, it is these three seats that have given the BJP a reason to celebrate. Party’s Kashmir in-charge for the DDC elections Shahnawaz Hussain calls the three seats people’s blessings and a “sharp reply to those who said people have lost faith in democracy”.

“I want to thank the people of J&K for reposing faith in the democratic system and giving a befitting reply to those who said that people have lost faith in it after the abrogation of Article 370,” he said, after Aijaz Hussain gave the BJP its first victory from the Khonmoh-II seat in the Valley.

Party’s J&K spokesperson Abhijeet Jastrotia called the results a “strong reply to those all who flocked together not for development but ulterior motives”.

“The BJP won three seats and a good vote share in the entire Kashmir province. It is an indication that people of the Valley stand for democracy. In Jammu, some local parties were batting for the Gupkar gang, but positive campaign of our star campaigners led to satisfactory results. Despite negative propaganda by our rivals, people reposed faith in Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his governance. The results show that people of J&K have accepted that the BJP alone can show the way and save them from the clutches of dynastic politics,” Jasrotia said.

BJP’s media in charge in Kashmir Manzoor Bhatt said several Independents who won today were supported by the party. While the party is in a position to form seven to eight councils in the Jammu region, senior leaders claim the Gupkar alliance “may not end up very happy because ultimately many Independents are supported by the BJP”.

The BJP led a campaign that saw several national leaders, including Anurag Thakur, Shahnawaz Hussain, Smriti Irani, Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi and Tarun Chugh, campaigning.

“This is what we wanted…these are the first elections post Article 370 and also the first where there was no boycott call, no terrorist attack. People came out and voted for basic demands like roads and water electricity. It is not three out of 140 (in Kashmir) but zero to three. This is how we see them,” said a party leader.

Kashmir in-charge Vibodh Gupta said the party had “scripted history” in the first-ever DDC elections. “It is the beginning of a new era in the Valley and end of communal and divisive politics of the Gupkar gang, terrorism and separatism,” he added.