With only a fortnight left for the first phase of elections in Jammu and Kashmir, the state unit of the BJP is a divided house over seat adjustments with the RSS-backed Jammu State Morcha (JSM). A group of partymen, led by Union Minister Chaman Lal Gupta, has opposed the alliance and asked the party high command to break ties with the Morcha. The group held a meeting on Sunday night, which was attended by BJP Legislature Party leader Shiv Charan Gupta and six others. Most of the participants, who happened to be the members of the party’s state election committee, decided to ask the high command to break ties with the Morcha if it insisted on contesting elections from 23 seats, party sources said. Farooq kin attacked SRINAGAR: Industries Minister and brother of CM Farooq Abdullah Sheikh Mustafa Kamaal on Monday escaped an attempt on his life at Khepora in Baramulla district. Kamaal, who is seeking re-election from Gulmarg, was attacked soon after he addressed an election rally. SRINAGAR: Hizbul Mujahideen on Monday issued a fresh threat against all those who participate in the J-K polls, without naming Peoples’ Conference members who are now participating in the elections. (Agencies) ‘‘We think nothing should be done at the cost of the BJP’s interests. There is great resentment in the party on this tie-up,’’ sources quoted a BJP leader at Sunday’s meeting. The participants, sources said, agreed that the Morcha has no base at the grassroots in the state. BJP workers will feel frustrated if the RSS-backed group gets party seats despite this, MLA Hans Raj Dogra, a close aide of Chaman Lal Gupta, was quoted as saying. State vice-president Chander Mohan Sharma made the same demand. Pointing out that only six seats were to be given as per the electoral understanding, he wanted to know why the Morcha was asking for 23 seats, including those in Jammu city where the BJP won during the 1996 assembly polls. ‘‘We are a cadre-based party and have a base among the people. What does the Morcha have,’’ asked Mohan. The Morcha has said it will contest from Jammu East and Jammu West. If these seats are given, BJP MLAs, Ashok Khajuria and Hans Raj Dogra, will be in trouble. The other BJP faction led by state president D.K. Kotwal is, however, in favour of the alliance. ‘‘Both (BJP and Morcha) are opposed to discrimination against the Jammu region. The BJP has extended support to the Morcha on this issue. There is no question of breaking ties with it,’’ said Kotwal. Gupta’s faction, which includes district president Sat Paul Grover, today held a separate meeting with mediapersons at the party office and protested against the tie-up. ‘‘They are asking for more seats than they deserve. The BJP should not agree to this even if it means breaking the alliance,’’ said Dogra. Party leaders admit that their own survival has forced the Gupta faction to revolt against the alliance. Sri Kumar, chairman of the Jammu State Morcha, said the JSM has gained tremendous support after its announcement to take part in the elections and the BJP leaders should accept this. ‘‘The support to our rally proves that the Morcha is a front-runner,” said Kumar.
