BJP says no to pre-poll alliance

Srinagar, Mar 4: Bharatiya Janata Party’s J&K chief, Ravinder Raina Monday said that the party would not seek any pre-poll alliances for the upcoming Lok Sabha and assembly elections in J&K.

Talking to reporters here, he expressed confidence in the BJP’s strength saying the party would not require a post-poll alliance either as it was poised to sweep the elections.

“The BJP is ready to contest all five seats in J&K. We will contest the Lok Sabha polls on our own,” Raina said. “When the Election Commission announces assembly polls for J&K, we will contest on our own.”

Stating that the BJP had received overwhelming support and affection from the people of Jammu and Kashmir, he said the party would emerge victorious in both elections.

Raina described the visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi as most significant and said there was joy among the people of Kashmir.

“For the people of Kashmir, it is a matter of happiness that PM Modi is coming to the Valley on March 7. When the PM will come to Kashmir, more than 2 lakh people will participate in the rally at Bakshi Stadium,” he said. “There is a wave of happiness in Kashmir that PM Modi is coming to the Valley.”

Attributing the peace in J&K to the generous financial allocations made by the Modi government at the Centre, Raina said that the impact of the development package announced by PM Modi in 2014 was huge.

“Modi’s arrival in Kashmir in 2014 had given a ray of hope to the flood victims. He announced a development package of Rs 80,000 crore. It was because of that package that Kashmir was able to come out of problems,” he said.

Raina said that the Modi government had allocated funds generously for J&K.

“Today, Kashmir is passing through a prosperous and peaceful phase,” he said.