JAMMU, Oct 9: In the wake of the recent Assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir, Ravinder Raina, the President of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in J&K, articulated his stance on the newly formed government, asserting that its powers regarding the restoration of Statehood are limited, with such decisions resting solely with the Union Government. He emphasized that the local administration does not possess the jurisdiction to restore Statehood, which remains a matter of central governance.
Speaking at the BJP headquarters, alongside Member of Parliament Jugal Kishore Sharma, Raina expressed optimism that the National Conference-led government would adopt a stringent approach toward terrorism and separatism in the region. He articulated a hope for a future characterized by peace and brotherhood among the diverse communities of Jammu and Kashmir.
Raina attributed the National Conference-Congress coalition’s electoral success to the underperformance of BJP-backed Independent candidates and allied parties in Kashmir. Despite this, he noted that the BJP achieved its best electoral outcome to date, securing 29 Assembly seats and attaining a significant share of the vote. He extended gratitude to the electorate while acknowledging the pivotal roles played by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, and party president J.P. Nadda in this achievement.
Reflecting on his own electoral defeat in the Nowshera constituency to National Conference candidate Surinder Choudhary, Raina expressed his intention to focus on future strategies. He noted that the BJP initially aimed for 35 seats and was hopeful of forming a government with the support of independent candidates and like-minded factions from Kashmir.
“The poor showing of Independent candidates and other parties led to their defeat by the coalition candidates. I extend my good wishes to all the successful candidates. We trust that the incoming government will prioritize public welfare, fostering an environment of peace, prosperity, and brotherhood,” Raina remarked. He further asserted that the new administration must act decisively against separatism and terrorism to maintain the progress made in the region.
Highlighting the transformative efforts of the Modi administration over the past decade, Raina noted significant improvements in both security and development in Jammu and Kashmir. He emphasized the necessity for the new government to protect the hard-won peace that has been established, a peace he attributed to the consistent efforts of Modi and the Union Home Minister.
Moreover, Raina expressed his belief that the coalition government would deliver justice to the people, including regularizing daily wage workers in line with their manifesto commitments. He reiterated that BJP legislators would actively address public concerns in the new Assembly, ensuring that the grievances of the populace are taken seriously.
He conveyed that the Union Home Minister and Nadda had reached out to congratulate him on the BJP’s performance in the elections. Raina underscored that the Congress and National Conference had suffered significant losses in the Jammu region, and noted that the BJP’s support in Kashmir had also improved markedly, with the party garnering over 200,000 votes in Rajouri and Poonch—areas where it had struggled to field candidates in previous elections.
Regarding his defeat in Nowshera, Raina stated that he had anticipated a win but acknowledged the need for introspection. He highlighted that the BJP received over 27,000 votes in Nowshera, a substantial increase compared to the previous Assembly elections. He also pointed out the effects of the 2022 delimitation, which altered the constituency boundaries and contributed to the BJP’s success in adjacent areas, where the party secured victories by considerable margins.