Srinagar: With just 10 days left for campaigning in the first phase of Jammu and Kashmir assembly elections, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has taken a lead in election preparations, leveraging significant resources to expand its outreach across the region.
The party has hired three helicopters, which have become key to BJP’s strategy to reach voters in remote areas.
The BJP candidates, including Sunil Sharma from Padar-Nagsena, Shagun Parihar from Kishtwar, Dilip Parihar from Bhaderwah, Gajay Singh Rana from Doda, Shakti Parihar from Doda West, Rakesh Thakur from Ramban, and Salim Butt from Banihal, are utilizing helicopters to conduct up to 10 rallies a day. The strategy is aimed at accessing areas that are difficult to reach by road.
Sunil Sharma has already made multiple appearances in villages located in upper regions such as Atholi, Padar, Soundar, and Dachchan, delivering speeches and rallying support. Other BJP candidates are also actively using the helicopter service to visit far-flung areas.
BJP’s campaign is not limited to just these districts. After the conclusion of the first phase, as per the party sources, helicopters will be redeployed to other districts, including Udhampur and Kathua, ensuring that no area is left untouched.
While BJP’s high-tech campaign is in full swing, other political parties, including the Congress, are focusing on traditional methods of campaigning.
Ravinder Sharma, a senior Congress leader and party spokesperson said that Congress candidates are making every effort to reach out to the public, mostly on foot or by road, but added that the party has not ruled out using helicopters if necessary.
Sharma said that Congress is committed to leaving no stone unturned in its campaign efforts, noting that party workers are pushing hard to cover the remaining days of the campaign
