Jammu: National Conference Provincial President Devender Singh Rana on Friday described “fake jubilation” of the BJP over the just concluded Urban Local Bodies elections in Jammu and Kashmir as “hilarious”, saying that the poll-result data speaks volumes about its rejection, especially by the people of Jammu.
“The BJP vote share has drastically dropped by less than half in the three pivotal city constituencies, constituting 76 wards of the Jammu Municipal Corporation, and still its leaders are gloating and celebrating”, Mr Rana said at a press conference held at Sher-e-Kashmir Bhavan here this afternoon.
Citing the poll outcome data of the JMC, he said the BJP got 1,48,061 votes in Gandhi Nagar, Jammu East and Jammu West segments in 2014 assembly elections and on the contrary it managed less than half the number of 75,578 votes in the recent elections, a drop of nearly 51 per cent in vote share despite the number of votes having increased. Similarly, he said the BJP stands decimated in Udhampur and Kathua districts, key components of the Jammu-Doda Parliamentary Constituency with the saving grace only in Hiranagar Municipal Committee.
Rana wondered over the BJP leaders ill-conceived observations about National Conference having been taught in lesson by the people in ULB elections and said the party needs to do some sort of introspection. Due to its inept policies and mishandling of the situation in partnership of the PDP, the BJP created a situation in 2017 by-elections to Srinagar and Anantnag Parliamentary constituencies which witnessed just 7.13 per cent polls in Srinagar and cancellation of the Anantnag seat. Showing the mirror to the BJP, he said the State witnessed massive participation in both parliamentary and assembly elections of 2014 due to the conducive situation created by the then Mr Omar Abdullah led government. While 26 per cent votes were polled in Srinagar parliamentary constituency, 28 per cent votes were polled in Anantnag in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections. Similarly, the 2014 assembly elections saw lowest percentage of 49 and highest 76 per cent, which speaks about the governance, he said adding that this time around little over three percent polling was held in the Valley.
