[Ayanangsha Maitra in Kolkata and Anees Zargar in Srinagar]
Srinagar: Prime Minister Narendra Modi's first visit to the Kashmir Valley on Thursday after emasculating Article 370 and 35A in Kashmir stirred both excitement and disappointment among political leaders and the electorate. Ahead of two elections, first the general election and later the assembly election, the massive turnout at Srinagar's Bakshi Stadium, ignited hopes among local BJP leaders and party sympathizers, who interpreted the gathering as a precursor to their triumph in the upcoming elections.
Speaking to Vygr News, BJP's state president Ravinder Raina expressed buoyant optimism, citing the overwhelming presence at PM Modi's rally as a testament to the party's prospective win in both the Lok Sabha and assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir. "The sea of people present at Modi's rally today is a testament to the fact that BJP will sweep the Lok Sabha and assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir. Everyone is in a celebratory mood," Raina opined, echoing the fervor of the BJP supporters.
Attending the Bakshi Stadium, Umar Khan, a resident of Baramulla in North Kashmir, expressed his support for the BJP, saying, "BJP is the future as Modi is the selfless leader. I, along with hundreds of people, have joined the party as it is the only hope for the aspiring youth," he told Vygr News.
However, the sentiment wasn't shared by everyone this media outlet spoke to.
Leaders from the opposition parties, notably the Jammu and Kashmir National Conference (NC), voiced disappointment over the Prime Minister's visit, highlighting the absence of substantive discourse addressing the region's intricate political conundrums.
In an exclusive chat with Vygr News, NC's spokesperson Imran Nabi Dar articulated the party's disillusionment, emphasizing the lack of concrete commitments from the Prime Minister regarding pivotal issues plaguing the region. "All in all, the Prime Minister's speech was a big disappointment. There was no mention of statehood, assembly elections, youth employment, no new Confidence Building Measures (CBM) announced, nothing on augmentation of electricity supply," Dar lamented, underscoring the unmet expectations of the NC and its supporters.
The stark divergence in reactions underscores the deep-seated political rivalry within the poll-bound Kashmir Valley. While the BJP views Modi's Kashmir visit as a harbinger of electoral success and a validation of their policies, the NC perceives it as a missed opportunity to address pressing concerns and chart a course toward resolution.
As the echoes of Modi's speech reverberate across the Valley, the political landscape remains fraught with uncertainty, leaving stakeholders and observers alike to ponder the implications of the Prime Minister's visit on the region's future trajectory. The Supreme Court has ordered to hold an Assembly election by September 30 in the state. Srinagar, which once witnessed the marriage of two opposed ideologies - Mehbooba Mufti's Peoples' Democratic Party and the BJP - ultimately souring the alliance, is poised to unveil more surprises in 2024. In both elections, the BJP will face challenges in securing the seats from the Abdullahs' National Congress; their accusations of dynastic party patriarchy and corruption during PM Modi's address reveal profound confidence to compete with them.
Ⓒ Copyright 2024. All Rights Reserved Powered by Vygr Media.
