BJP trying to rope in local J&K politicians

SRINAGAR: In a bid to expand its influence in the valley, BJP general secretary Ram Madhav has had a series of meetings with several Kashmir politicians, including some separatist politicos who are believed to be fed up with separatist politics.
It is learned that Ram Madhav met Sajjad Lone, who heads a faction of his slain father's Abdul Ghani Lone's party, People's Conference, this week. BJP and Kashmir politicians are tight-lipped about the meeting.

"Over the last few days, Ram Madhav has had a series of meetings with leading public figures, intellectuals and politicians in connection with the assembly elections," an influential BJP politician said.

Sajjad Lone contested the 2009 parliamentary elections but lost from North Kashmir. This time too, his party is gearing up to contest a few assembly seats from North Kashmir.

BJP is targeting the "Mission 44-plus seats" in Jammu & Kashmir in the assembly elections for which it is trying to bring together several smaller parties. The party is also trying to get several independent MLAs in the present assembly on its side.

Meanwhile , Union minister Ram Vilas Paswan is set to arrive in the Valley on Sunday to review flood victims' rehabilitation.