'BJP confident of winning Jammu and Kashmir DDC polls'

BJP has expressed confidence in winning the DDC elections in Jammu and Kashmir stating that people of the region are with the party. The elections grabbed the limelight due to the formation of the Gupkar Alliance ahead of the polls.

New Delhi: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) national spokesperson Gopal Krishna Agarwal on Saturday said that the people of Jammu and Kashmir are firmly standing with the party and will make it win in the District Development Council (DDC) elections.

Agarwal also expressed his gratitude to the people of J-K for coming out in large numbers to exercise their voting rights. He said that there is excitement among the people which shows their faith in the democracy.

It is for the first time after the abrogation of article 370 and bifurcation of the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir, the union territory is going to the polls. What makes these elections different is the formation of the Gupkar alliance and the exchange of jibes between Gupkar and BJP leaders ahead of the elections.

Talking to media persons, the BJP leader said, "People of JK know that pace of development will expedite after the nullification of article 370 and 35A. People in the region will now be able to actively participate in the country's major happening issues."

Hitting out at the Gupkar Alliance, the minister said that it is corrupt and it aims to acquire the land by using the provisions of the Roshni Act. BJP will win in the DDC elections and the people of JK are totally against the newly formed Gupkar Alliance.

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Gupkar Alliance is the collaboration of mainstream political parties in the region namely National Conference, People's Democratic Party, CPI(M), JK People's Conference, and others and they have pledged to restore the special status of the area. Former Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah is the president and PDP Chief Mehbooba Mufti is the vice-president of the coalition.

In the first phase of DDC polls, 51.76% voter turnout was recorded with the maximum percentage recorded in Jammu. The DDC polls are scheduled to be held in eight phases and will end on December 19. The results will be declared on Dec 22.

The BJP has slammed the Gupkar Alliance and has called it 'anti-national' and also questioned Congress's stand regarding the agenda of the coalition. Congress made a U-turn and distanced itself from the Alliance saying that it is not a part of it.

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