Amit Shah headed to Jammu and Kashmir to push BJP's 'Mission-44' plan

BJP President Amit Shah is headed to Jammu and Kashmir on a two-day visit on Sunday in a bid to consolidate and strengthen the party's position in the state where Assembly elections are slated for later this year.

Along with senior party leader JP Nadda, Ram Madhav and the party's in-charge and co-in-charge, respectively, of Jammu and Kashmir affairs, Avinash Rai Khanna and RP Singh, Shah will leave for Jammu tomorrow. He is to hold a public rally in Kathua on Monday.

The BJP chief's visit is aimed at mobilising the party cadre in the state ahead of Assembly polls. BJP has formulated a 'Mission-44' plan to win majority in the state and form the government there.

The tenure of the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly ends on January 19, 2015, and elections will be held before that for the 87 Assembly seats in the state.

Sources said Shah will meet party MLAs in Jammu on Sunday and then, on Monday, interact with its Jammu and Kashmir unit office bearers. He will also address a public rally at Kathua on August 25, where a senior Congress leader and former MP is likely to join the party.

In an attempt to widen its base and reach out to people in Kashmir Valley, BJP is looking to rope in some moderate players to help strengthen the party's base there. The party is working on winning over and allying with some lone, moderate separatists in the Valley in a bid to win over the local populace, sources said.

Shah is also slated to visit Srinagar later.