Not in fray, yet BJP goes whole hog in Valley campaign

THE BJP is not contesting any of the three Valley seats - Srinagar, Baramulla and Anantnag in the Lok Sabha polls, the first major electoral exercise in Kashmir after abrogation of Article 370, but is engaged in door-to-door campaign against NC and PDP and in favour of candidates of likeminded parties.

- FAYAZ WANI

The BJP held a roadshow in uptown Srinagar on Friday from Jawahar Nagar area to Rawathpora area of Barzulla. "The roadshow was part of a larger campaign by the BJP to support candidates from likeminded parties," party spokesman Sajid Yousuf Shah said. In Srinagar seat, polling will be held on May 13 while Baramulla will vote on May 20 and Anantnag on May 25.

In Srinagar, the main contest is among NC's Agha Ruhullah, PDP's Waheed Para and Apni Party's Mohammad Ashraf Mir. NC's Omar Abdullah and Peoples Conference's Sajjad Lone are locked in a direct fight in Baramulla.

Anantnag-Rajouri seat is witnessing a triangular contest among NC's Mian Altaf, PDP's Mehbooba Mufti and Apni Party's Zafar Manhas.