Srinagar, Aug 10: Political parties in Jammu and Kashmir have intensified preparations for the much-anticipated Assembly elections, which are expected to be held soon.
The region has been without political representation since 2014, the last time assembly elections were conducted.
During a recent visit to J&K, the Election Commission of India assured that elections would be held without further delay, prompting political parties to spring into action.
The DCC presidents have been tasked with shortlisting three to five candidates from each assembly segment to be sent to the JKPCC president for final consideration. Rasool says that the focus will be on selecting candidates who are popular, have clean backgrounds, and possess strong winning prospects. The Congress party plans to contest all 90 seats in Jammu and Kashmir, and efforts are being made to ensure early candidate selection to avoid any confusion or conflicts during ticket distribution.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is also preparing for the elections. The party has announced a 132-member state election management committee to oversee the campaign. Jugal Kishore Sharma, a three-time Member of Parliament who was recently appointed as a whip in the Lok Sabha, has been nominated as the chairman of the BJP’s election campaign committee in the Union Territory.
The BJP has been a significant player in J&K politics, particularly since the region was placed under Central rule on June 19, 2018, following the collapse of a coalition government led by the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and supported by the BJP.
Similarly, the PDP has taken steps to reorganize its ranks in preparation for the elections. The party has appointed more than a dozen leaders as in-charges of 14 assembly constituencies. The PDP has faced significant challenges since the abrogation of Article 370, which led to the departure of many prominent leaders, including former legislators and ministers. However, in recent months, the party has seen a resurgence, with several former leaders, including two ex-legislators and a former MP, returning to its fold. Talks are ongoing with other former members who are considering rejoining the party. The PDP’s efforts to rebuild come as most of its former leaders had joined the Apni Party, a political group formed by former minister Altaf Bukhari.
