J&K April 15: J&K is set to witness a fierce contest in the LS elections, with the abrogation of Article 370, restoration of statehood, holding of assembly elections, separatism, Pakistan, terrorism, unemployment, and dynastic politics being the main agenda in the polls.
The election campaigning for five Lok Sabha seats has intensified in Jammu and Kashmir, with the Udhampur constituency set for polls in the first phase on April 19.
J&K has five parliamentary constituencies, three in the Kashmir valley and two in Jammu. Currently, three Lok Sabha seats in Kashmir are held by the National Conference while the BJP holds two parliamentary seats in Jammu.
For the upcoming Lok Sabha polls, there are 86.93 lakh voters in Jammu and Kashmir, with 42.57 million being women. Although around 20 political parties besides independents are contesting the upcoming polls, seven main political parties will be in the fray, including the National Conference, PDP, BJP, Congress, J&K Peoples Conference, J&K Apni Party, and Democratic Progressive Azad Party (DPAP).
These parties have intensified their election campaign and are taking on each other.
For Kashmir-based parties like the National Conference and PDP, they are contesting polls on the abrogation of Article 370, mishandling of Kashmir, and to keep BJP away from J&K.
At the same time, the BJP is taking on the NC, Congress, and PDP for indulging in dynastic politics and also talking about harsh steps against Pakistan, terrorism, and separatism. The Congress also raises restoration of statehood and talks about inflation and unemployment.
For parties like Apni Party led by Altaf Bukhari, Democratic Progressive Azad Party led by Ghulam Nabi Azad, and People’s Conference led by Sajad Lone, the restoration of statehood is their main agenda in these polls.
Congress and National Conference (INDIA Alliance) are jointly contesting the upcoming polls, with the National Conference on three seats of Kashmir and Congress on two seats of Jammu.
Senior National Conference leader and former chief minister Farooq Abdullah said the INDIA Alliance will win all seats in J&K.
On April 12, Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed a gathering in Jammu and said that statehood will be restored to Union Territory J&K and assembly elections will be held very soon. He challenged the Congress to bring back Article 370 of the Constitution.
Similarly, another senior BJP leader and Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh Yogi Adityanath also addressed a gathering in Jammu on April 10
Yogi in his speech targeted the previous governments for not taking harsh steps against Pakistan.
In the first phase, the Udhampur constituency is going for voting on April 19.
The constituency was represented by Congress’s Lal Singh in 2004 and 2009 and then by BJP’s Jitendra Singh in 2014 and 2019. Again, there seems to be a fierce contest between these two leaders who have represented the constituency in the last four Parliamentary elections.
Sunil Sharma, a BJP supporter, said that Jitender Singh used to be busy in the PMO’s office since he is a union minister. “But he has done a lot of work in all areas of Udhampur. We got cylinders, free medical treatment under Golder Card, and also better roads and tap water connections. It was due to his efforts that many centrally sponsored schemes were launched. Jammu got IIT, IIM, AIIMS during BJP’s tenure and also ended Kashmir-centric politics,” Sharma said.
In the 2nd phase, the Jammu Parliamentary seat is going for polls on April 26. In the constituency, it will again be a contest between BJP and Congress. The two-time incumbent MP Jugal Kishore is the BJP’s candidate while Congress has fielded its J&K working president Raman Bhalla. It was won by Congress’s Madan Lal Sharma in 2004 and 2009 and then by BJP’s Jugal Kishore in 2014 and 2019. It seems like a close contest between these two parties.
The Anantnag-Rajouri seat will go for polls on May 07. Currently held by NC’s Hasnian Masoodi, there seems to be a four-way contest between the National Conference, PDP, BJP, and DPAP. Historically, no political party has retained the seat since 1989.
The NC has fielded its influential Gujjar leader Mian Altaf, while PDP president Mehbooba will be contesting from there. Similarly, former Congress leader and union minister Ghulam Nabi Azad is DPAP’s candidate. The BJP is yet to announce their candidate for the seat.
Then, on May 13, the Srinagar (Central Kashmir) parliamentary seat will go to polls. It seems to be a triangular contest between the NC, PDP, and Apni Party. The NC has announced Aga Rahullah, Mohammad Ashraf Mir as the Apni Party candidate, and Waheed Parra as the PDP’s candidate.
In the last phase, on May 20, the Baramulla (North Kashmir) Parliamentary seat is up for polls. It is expected to be a triangular contest
From this constituency, senior NC leader and former Chief Minister Abdullah is contesting.
Similarly, People’s Conference has fielded its president Sajad Lone, while Fayaz Ahmad Mir is the PDP’s candidate.
