BJP’s vote share falls by 25% in Jammu after recent LS polls: Rajni Patil

AICC incharge, J&K affairs Rajni Patil along with JKPCC chief G A Mir and vice president Raman Bhalla addressing a press conference in Jammu on Monday. -Excelsior/Rakesh
AICC incharge, J&K affairs Rajni Patil along with JKPCC chief G A Mir and vice president Raman Bhalla addressing a press conference in Jammu on Monday. -Excelsior/Rakesh

Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Jan 11:  Senior AICC leader and incharge J&K  affairs of the party, Rajni Patil (Ex-MP) today said that 25% decline in the vote share of BJP in Jammu region in just over year of the last Lok Sabha elections, should be eye opener for the Saffron party which is patting its own back with the win in just five districts out of 20, in the hurriedly announced DDC elections in J&K.
Addressing a press conference after holding meeting with newly elected DDC members from the party here today, Patil said that BJP made every attempt to polarise the election atmosphere for vested political interests  but Congress would not compromise on its inclusive policies for the sake of political interests, asserting that it would identify it shortcomings to emerge stronger wherever it lost.
Flanked by PCC president, G A Mir, vice presidents Raman Bhalla and Mula Ram, she  questioned the Government for deliberately not keeping the provisions of Anti-defection law and not declaring the roaster of reservation of DDC chairpersons, as per existing law, before the holding of DDC polls, thus keeping the doors of horse trading  open,  she said all over country where elections are held on party basis for Panchayat bodies, the Anti- defection law is applied but here the Government has not inserted such provision while holding election to the DDCs.
Patil said that all provisions of 73rd and 74th Amendment were incorporated by the Congress during its coalition regime in Jammu and Kashmir. The  reservation of 33 per cent women besides SC and ST and election of such number of women  SC & ST is the result of Congress efforts, she added.
The AICC leader further said the legislation for Finance Commission, Election Commission and Ombudsman for Panchayats was already made by Congress coalition Government in Jammu and Kashmir but BJP delayed the implementation of these provisions.
Referring to the results of DDC elections, Patil said that the BJP lost 25 % vote share in just one year from last Lok Sabha elections which reflects the disenchantment of people with BJP, while BJP is wrongly claiming victory. Out of twenty districts, BJP got majority on five districts only which shows that it’s policies are not acceptable to the majority of the people in Jammu and Kashmir and it can’t come to power again in future.
She said that Congress party would never compromise on it’s inclusive policies and continue to work as a unifying force which is important for the party more than victory or defeat. “Congress has secured substantial votes in all  diverse regions and its vote share has increased. However, the party would identify  the shortcomings to emerge further stronger wherever it lost, especially in several districts of Jammu region,” she maintained.
Earlier, AICC Incharge J&K affairs asked the newly elected and other contested DDC candidates of the party to remain in the service of the people in their respective constituencies and  strengthen the party at grass root level besides exposing the communal and divisive agenda of BJP.
Addressing a gathering of party candidates in the DDC elections and senior leaders of PCC, DCC and frontal wings, Patil said that Panchayat Raj is the gift of Congress and 73rd and 74th amendments the brain child of late Rajiv Gandhi. Congratulating the candidates for fighting the recently held elections in the wake of heavy odds, she said party is fully behind them. She expressed satisfaction that the workers are upbeat and ready to take any challenge in near future.
Patil said different sections of people are agitating for various genuine rights but the BJP Government is ignoring the sentiments of the people in the arrogance of power.  She said that the farmers in the country are on war path due to pro- capitalists policies of Modi Government. The Congress would hold massive protest through out country on Jan 15 to press for repeal of black laws and the unprecedented price hike of fuel, she added.
The party DDC members were also felicitated by AICC leader and PCC leadership on the occasion.   A prominent political leader of Gool Gulabgarh area Gulzar Wani alongwith several supporters joined the Congress party on the occasion.