Buoyed by unspoilt spirit, Apni Party goes full throttle in NC, PDP bastions in Kashmir
Altaf Bukhari, Apni Party president, said he was optimistic that elections, whenever held, will be a surprise for Jammu and Kashmir’s political bigwigs
The newly-established political outfit, Apni Party, led by former minister Altaf Bukhari, has in the last two weeks held massive shows of strength in Jammu and Kashmir, even in the bastions of the more established National Conference (NC), Congress and the People Democratic Party (PDP), especially in northern Kashmir.
These events have attracted good crowds, and for Apni Party, the same has served as a preparation ahead of the iminent elections. Though poll dates for the UT have not yet been announced, speculations are rife about elections being likely by the end of the year or early next year.
Party leaders say the decision to launch rallies was taken to uplift the cadre’s morale and showcase the party’s strength.
“Our rallies have been successful at every place as more and more people are willing to join us,” Bukhari party president, said. “It’s just the beginning, now there will be a series of rallies and party conventions across J&K,” he added.
Bukhari optimistic of electoral success
Bukhari said he was optimistic that elections, whenever held, will be a surprise for UT’s political bigwigs, especially those who have been fooling people in the name of false slogans.
Apni party, comprising mostly former ministers and legislators from the PDP, was formed soon after revocation of Article 370. All the top leaders of the party had met Prime Minister Modi and home minister Amit Shah, making the party to be one of the first to reach out to the Centre post the move.
Since then many politicians from different parties have joined the Apni party with a hope the party will perform well in the elections.
Bukhari has since gone all out to lure voters, announcing sops if his party was to form the government. Free 500 units of electricity, enhancement of old age pension and reduction in the freight of apple transportation by 50 percent have been some of the pole points in the party’s campaign.
“Apple, which contributes 8%of J&K’s GDP, was never a priority of previous governments. This will be our top issue,” Bukhari said, eyeing the major vote bank of farmers and the growers in northern Kashmir.
Party banks on Bukhari’s appeal
A former minister in the PDP-Bharatiya Janata Party-led coalition government, Bukhari has also announced plans to contest elections from two seats — one in northern Kashmir and another in Srinagar.
Bukhari represented the erstwhile Amira Kadal constituency in Srinagar, now a part of the Chanpora constituency post delimitation, and plans to contest from that constituency, besides Uri, as he originally hails from Muqam Peran village of the region.
The party is also hopeful of bagging seats from Baramulla district. “In the District Development Council (DDC) polls, we won three seats and performed well at all places. The assembly elections will be easy for us especially when besides Bukhari, the party has winning candidates at almost all seven assembly segments.Our political power shows, in north Kashmir has unnerved our opponents,” a senior Apni Party leader said.
While party leaders are mostly seen targeting NC and the PDP in Kashmir, their main pitch for the Jammu region remains harping on the alleged policy failures of the BJP and the Congress.
“Here in Kashmir, PDP and NC are our opponents while in Jammu our fight is with BJP and the Congress and we will perform well in both the regions,” a party leader said.
