Have asked EC to hold Jammu and Kashmir Assembly elections as early as possible: BJP's Ram Madhav in Srinagar

BJP national general secretary Ram Madhav said while briefing media from Srinagar on Wednesday that he had asked the Election Commission to conduct Assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir as early as possible.

"After panchayat and parliamentary elections, we want early assembly elections now", Madhav said, adding that there had been substantial and hard action against terrorism, and that development work in the state was progressing at a fast pace.

After putting forth his view that people are happy in the state and that there is peace there, he expressed that there had been no change on the BJP's view on Article 370 and 35A - a massive political point of contention in Jammu and Kashmir.

Madhav attacked the two regional powers - NC and PDP - accusing them of working to serve their own agendas and playing a dual game by not allowing democracy to flourish, citing boycotts of local body polls.

He also delivered a scathing assessment of the Congress' chances in the upcoming elections, opining that the Rahul Gandhi-led party is certain of its defeat, and also took on Mehbooba Mufti, saying that the former BJP ally's support for the Jamaat-e-Islami JK and JKLF would never amount to anything as she won't be returning to power. 

On the other hand, the BJP is confident of winning seats in Jammu and Ladakh, Madhav said, adding that the party was trying its best to improve its position in the Kashmir Valley as well.

Elections for the Jammu and Kashmir assembly weren't announced in tandem with the Lok Sabha polls - a move that was heavily criticised by NC chief Omar Abdullah, and also opposed by newspaper media in the state which near unanimously published blank front pages in protest on the subsequent day.

The state is currently under President's rule and hasn't had a Chief Minister since the BJP withdrew support for the PDP and Mehbooba Mufti in June 2018.

For the upcoming Lok Sabha polls, the Congress and NC have announced an alliance which will see the Congress contest two seats in Jammu and support Farooq Abdullah's candidature in Srinagar, while the two parties will have 'friendly contest' in the three remaining seats - Anantnag, Baramulla and Ladakh.