As PAGD splits, BJP goes into overdrive to spread party ideology in Kashmir

Srinagar:  With People’s Alliance for Gupkar Declaration (PAGD) imploding, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Kashmir unit, has launched an extensive training programme to spread the party ideology in the Valley.

From using social media to reaching out to people, the party has gone into overdrive to train its cadres in a bid to expand its base in the valley.

“We first trained the Valley based leaders who later went to the districts to impart training. After training at the district level, similar training programmes will be held at the constituency and booth level. We will tell the cadre about the history and ideology of BJP and how to carry forward the legacy of the party,” BJP media-incharge Manzoor Bhat told The Kashmir Monitor.

Bhat, who had conducted a training session at Budgam in Central Kashmir on Sunday last, said the cadre was also being imparted leadership skills that would be effective in spreading its base.

“When the cadre gets an understanding of the BJP, they can effectively counter charges against the party. We teach the cadre how to effectively use social media to spread the BJP ideology….there is also personality development and how to create leadership skills….how to expand party base and how to reach out to the people effectively,” he said. “We saw the lotus bloom in the recent District Development Council (DDC). BJP is coming up as a force to reckon with in Kashmir and in the coming days, several big faces will join the party-fold.”

The district-level training programme had earlier been kick-started by BJP UT general secretary (organisation) Ashok Koul here on January 3.

“Imparting training to the party activists is important as it makes them familiar with the principles, ideology and commitments of the BJP,” said Koul.

BJP Training Department In-charge Kashmir, Bilal Parray said the training programme was very thorough and even had a separate “question-answer and doubt clearing sessions”.

“An important part of these training sessions is the interaction between the senior leaders and booth-level workers regarding organizational and local issues at the block level. The training will be aimed at preparing the workers for future challenges,” he said.

Pertinently, the BJP is carrying out these training sessions amid a dearth of political activities in the Valley. While Congress had earlier distanced itself from the PAGD, Sajad Lone led Peoples Conference too quit the alliance on Tuesday.

Though the BJP had won three seats in the recent DDC elections, the party has never won an assembly or Parliamentary election in the Valley. The BJP also won over 100 seats in 2018 municipal elections amid a boycott by the National Conference and the Peoples Democratic Party.