BJP, PDP may join hands, working on ‘formula’ – RS Polls
Have to look for some arrangement to ensure we win all the seats: Naeem Akhtar
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) are working on a ‘formula’ wherein the former would field its candidates from Jammu and the latter from Kashmir, in the forthcoming Rajya Sabha elections to four seats in Jammu and Kashmir, sources said.
“For elections to the Upper House of the Parliament, it has been almost finalized that the BJP will field candidates from Jammu region while the PDP from Kashmir,” a senior BJP leader, privy to the developments, told Greater Kashmir.
PDP spokesman, Naeem Akhter, said: “It is obvious that BJP and PDP can win all the seats if they contest jointly. Therefore, it is again obvious that we have to look for some arrangement to ensure that we win all the seats.”
Meanwhile, sources said the BJP’s state unit has decided to submit names of five probable candidates (for the RS polls) from Jammu region to the party high command in New Delhi on Friday.
“The names of former MLA and National Executive Member, Ashok Kahjuria, former state president and Core Group member, Shamsher Singh Manhas, advocate Chander Mohan Sharma, state vice-president, advocate Vobodh Gupta, and senior leader, Kuldeep Raj Gupta, will be submitted to the party high command tomorrow for its final nod,” a senior BJP leader confirmed.
He said a criterion was laid down whereby the leaders who lost the recent assembly elections “were not considered for the elections to the Upper House.”
Newly-elected MLA and National Executive Member, Dr Nirmal Singh, said: “Although there are aspirants from all the three regions of the state, the final call has to be taken by the high command.”
“The list of the probable candidates will be submitted to the party high command within a day or two,” he said.
