Amit Shah to release BJP manifesto in Jammu on Sep 6

Jammu, Sep 04: Union Home Minister Amit Shah will release the manifesto of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for the J&K assembly elections in Jammu on September 6 – the day he will reach here on a two-day visit to J&K.

The high-profile visit of one of its top star campaigners assumes significance as it will herald the formal launch of the party’s high-octane campaigning for ensuing assembly polls.

According to BJP sources, the Union Home Minister will arrive in Jammu on September 6, afternoon and will release the party manifesto at around 4 pm.

Sources stated that multi-tier security arrangements, including sniffer dogs, were put in place today for the VVIP visit at the Ritz Hotel, where Shah was likely to release the party manifesto. The next day he is scheduled to address a workers’ rally, most probably at Manhas Biradari ground in Paloura.

“Though the visit itinerary is being finalised, the possibility of the Union Home Minister addressing a public rally also cannot be ruled out. His Day-I engagements, following manifesto release, will also include interaction with party leaders to get first-hand feedback on the prevailing political scenario; BJP’s election preparedness and problems on account of dissension within the party over ticket distribution,” sources added.

Though the party has already engaged a battery of its senior functionaries and national leaders to amicably address resentment within the party rank and file yet this will be the first-ever such engagement at the top-most level.

“So far, there is no confirmation about his visit to Kashmir this time. Itinerary can be tweaked as per the VVIP’s engagements,” sources stated, adding, “Union Home Minister may visit Kashmir during the second phase. The final campaigning schedule is not yet out.”

A day before Shah’s visit, senior BJP leader and former Union Minister Anurag Thakur will address an election rally in Kishtwar tomorrow, in support of party candidates.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Union Home Minister, besides other star campaigners, are likely to visit Chenab Valley for campaigning, in the second week of September.

The first phase of elections, being held in three phases, will be held on September 18.

Three districts – Doda, Kishtwar, and Ramban of Chenab Valley, will go to polls in the first phase.

Meanwhile, the top leadership of the party was also engaged in clearing the names of candidates for the rest of the assembly segments of phase II and phase III.

The party, confronting rumbling over ticket distribution, has so far released lists of its 51 candidates.