Madhav wraps up 3-day JK visit

Wrapping up his three-day J&K visit, Bharatiya Janata Party’s National General Secretary Ram Madhav Wednesday informed the party men that the two coalition partners in State have started accommodating each other comfortably and hence the BJP must stress on strengthening its base in inviting more people to party fold.

Madhav stated this while chairing a crucial meet of party men at Church Lane here. He was on a week-long visit to JK to assess the coalition health and to check the party’s membership in the backdrop of registration of 3.30 lakh new members in the BJP’s Kashmir unit.

“The meeting was fruitful. Madhav expressed his satisfaction over the performance of the PDP-BJP coalition. He told the meeting that despite several hiccups at the onset of the formation of the government, the situation improved and that the government running smoothly now,” BJP’s Kashmir affairs incharge Ramesh Arora told Greater Kashmir. “Madhav also told us that both the parties (PDP-BJP) have now started accommodating each other and the government is all set to travel a long way.”

Arora said that before leaving for New Delhi, the BJP’s National General Secretary passed directions to ministers and office bearers that since the government was running smoothly, the focus should be on strengthening the party and inviting people, especially youth into mainstream. “He said coalition is doing well and all the party leaders must utilized their energy in bringing more and more people into BJP’s fold,” he said.

Madhav, according to BJP insiders, also told the party men that the new members registered into the party fold should make the party vibrant and ensure active participation the electoral process, especially in the upcoming Urban Local Bodies (ULB) elections.

“He also asked the party ministers present in the meeting to take the people of all three regions on board on every developmental issues,” said a party insider.

The BJP spokesman Khalid Jehangir said the meeting assumes significance given the fact it was first since the PDP-BJP coalition was formed in the State. “The crux of the meeting was that the party must accommodate more people into its fold. He assured the leaders that the Centre will give full support on the developmental activities,” he said. “Many people apprised Madhav about the paltry relief received by the flood-hit victims and urged him to persuade Centre for liberal financial assistance so that flood hit people are rehabilitated properly.”

Pertinently, Madhav told reporters on Tuesday that PDP-BJP coalition would complete its full term and that the issues mentioned in the Agenda of Alliance especially return of power projects to the State would be taken up with the Centre and “a possible way out would be ensured.”

Among those who were present in the meeting include Minister of State (MoS) for Education and Information Priya Sethi, MLCs Sofi Yousuf, Surinder Ambardar, Charanjit Singh Khalsa, Ramesh Arora, State Secretary Darakshan Andrabi, State secretary Zubair Nazir and others.