Amid uncertainty, BJP holds organisational polls in Kashmir

Srinagar, Dec 2: BJP has gone into an overdrive to hold organisational polls in the Union Territory at a time when political activities of most of the mainstream parties have come to a naught post abrogation of article 370,

Since July, BJP has claimed to have enrolled 1.5 lakh new members into the party fold across the valley. Prior to the membership drive, the party claimed to have at least five lakh members in the UT.

Buoyed by “huge response” to membership drive, the party is holding organizational polls to elect booth level members, which will be followed by elections for constituency and district level presidents. Every active member is supposed to pay Rs 200 as membership fee. Plus he has to convince 10 more people to become members of the party.

“Party cadre will elect booth presidents who shall manage political activities and mobilise voters of four other neighbouring booths. A member can also be elected as booth president only if he has a support of at least 25 other members,” said a top party functionary. 

Later, party will hold polls for booth presidents. Booth presidents will form the Electoral College for electing constituency and district presidents. District presidents will then elect the J&K president.

“This is a routine exercise, which is going on countrywide. Actually we were supposed to hold organizational polls in May 2019 but it got delayed due to the parliamentary polls. By the end of December, we will complete the entire exercise including the election for new national president,” said Ashok Kaul, General Secretary (Org), J&K BJP.

The organizational polls are also aimed at marshaling grassroots for assembly polls in the new UT. “Our next target is assembly polls. We will gear up for assembly polls once the organizational elections are over. This is an election at grass root level to ensure continuity of party’s internal democracy,” Kaul said.

Barring BJP, no other party is holding any activity as majority of their leaders are detained in subsidiary jail after abrogation of article 370. Last month, government shifted at least 30 political leaders from Centaur hotel to MLA hostel in Srinagar.