BJP divided over Article 370 while PDP gains ground

As the polling day is coming closer, a wide rift has opened between Jammu and Kashmir units of BJP in the state over the issue of Article 370 which is being brandied around ambiguously by the party. Responding to Minister of State in PMO Jitendra Singh`s statement that the article will be dealt with in the party`s manifesto, Hina Bhat, party`s star candidate from Amirakadal said, that if the article is even touched, she will be the first one to pick up a gun.

Hailed as one of the most important elections to be held in the state, a lot of governing factors are in play this time. BJP, which had been more or less absent in the previous elections, is contesting them this time with a very ambitious hope of gaining 44 plus seats. The ruling National Conference and Congress are down in doldrums while People`s Democratic Party has emerged as a major player. New parties are being formed every day and Bahujan Samajvadi Party has decided to contest the elections too.

Although all parties are confident of securing a mandate, the will of the people seems to be oscillating between BJP and PDP. ' I will vote for Modiji. The whole nation is behind him, now it is our turn' said Shankar, an autorickshaw driver from Jammu, though he failed to name the BJP candidate from his constituency, a not so uncommon trend of all BJP supporters in the region. Even the political parties are aware of it,  ' BJP is selling Modi`s image to win the elections in J&K as they have done elsewhere.' opined Sheikh Bhasir, the Principal Secretary of NC.

A lot of political formulae are being used to woo the population from the two main regions of the state, Jammu and Kashmir.

The question of Jammu is also present in the campaign issues. Panther`s Party, a regional Jammu party has talked about the delimitation of constituencies, even going as far as demanding separate statehood for the region.  Although PDP is aware of Jammu`s grievances, it has decided on less revolutionary adjustments like increased bureaucracy members from Jammu and developing the region as a tourist spot to improve its economy.

While NC`s spokesperson, Anil Dhar claimed that the party is deeply embedded in the ethos of the state, the voters opinion is quite a stark opposite. 'NC will not come to power this time. It has not done anything for the state and corruption is rampant at all levels of its hierarchy.' said Akshay Razdan, a resident of Janipur.

Modi wave might be present in Jammu but for the party to achieve its 44 plus goal, Kashmir too will have to come under its sway, and this is a question still unanswered.