New Delhi, December 24: BJP's general secretary in-charge of J&K Tarun Chugh calls DDC election results “victory of nationalist forces in J&K”.
Chugh, while slamming the PAGD on its charge of BJP “poaching/wooing” Independents, says, “BJP has made deep inroads in J&K and hopes to have chairpersons in about a dozen places which is no small achievement.”
Excerpts from the interview
- You say BJP won largest vote share but then it also contested the largest number of seats. In those terms it won smaller share of contested seats than big constituents of Gupkar Alliance, according to some analysts.
- The assumption is wrong. Apart from emerging as the single largest party, a large number of our candidates lost by a very small margin. At many places the BJP tactfully fielded Independents, many of who won. The BJP has made a big beginning under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and we would soon consolidate our position.
- What happened in some Jammu districts? It seems you will be able to form only six/seven of 10 councils in the region?
- The BJP had its strategy well laid out and is proud of the fact that it gave chance to people to come out of the horrible shadows of the Gupkar gang which looted J&K for decades. We are confident of having chairpersons in about a dozen places.
- Apparently the BJP got only 3% votes in Kashmir valley compared to 34% from Jammu region. In districts where Hindus are more than 90%, BJP won 86% seats but only 2% in districts where Muslims are more than 90%, analysts say. Do you see it as win of Gupkar Alliance or reflection on Article 370?
- It is neither reflection on Article 370 nor a Gupkar victory or a BJP loss. We contested for the first time in Srinagar and made a big impact. There are some pockets where the BJP made its appearance for the first time so people will take time to build confidence in us. The popularity of Prime Minister's policies and programmes is there for all of us to see and the party will strengthen itself in days to come. Let us not assess the BJP in isolation. At many places we supported others. The election was against the Gupkar gang and you can see their base eroding in many areas. At many places BJP supported candidates have won.
- PAGD says BJP is now trying to “woo/ poach” Independents. How many of Independents were supported by BJP?
- The Gupkar gang is daydreaming all the time. Since they did not have courage to contest separately they formed a gang against us. The results are a slap on their face. The BJP had an election strategy to support Independents at many places. They were our undeclared partners, so where is the question of poaching/wooing.
