Political parties intensify election campaign in J&K

Srinagar Mar 19: Political parties in Jammu and Kashmir have intensified their campaigns for the upcoming Parliamentary elections.
J&K has five parliamentary constituencies, with three in the Kashmir valley and two in Jammu. Currently, the National Conference holds three Lok Sabha seats in Kashmir, with Farooq Abdullah representing Central Kashmir, Justice Hasnian Masoodi representing South Kashmir, and Mohammad Akbar Lone representing North Kashmir. In Jammu, the BJP holds two parliamentary seats, with Dr. Jitendar Singh and Jugal Kishore as the incumbents.

For the upcoming Lok Sabha polls, there are 86.93 lakh voters in Jammu and Kashmir, including 42.57 lakh women voters. At least seven major political parties will be in the fray, including the National Conference, PDP, BJP, Congress, J&K Peoples Conference, J&K Apni Party, and Democratic Azad Party. These parties have intensified their election campaigns and are actively engaging with each other.
Senior NC leader Omar Abdullah Tuesday addressed a gathering in South Kashmir and urged people to vote for its candidates.
The NC may field Hasnian Masoodi from South Kashmir, Omar Abdullah from North Kashmir, and Farooq Abdullah from Central Kashmir. The PDP intends to field its president, Mehbooba Mufti, from South Kashmir. Mehbooba has indicated ongoing discussions with Congress regarding a seat-sharing agreement.
South Kashmir was traditionally considered a bastion of the PDP, but in the last Lok Sabha election, NC’s Hasnian Masoodi emerged victorious. If the PDP fails to secure South Kashmir in the seat-sharing agreement, it has a contingency plan. A senior PDP leader mentioned that if the NC contests all three seats in Kashmir, the PDP will also contest on all three seats.
For the two seats in Jammu, the main contest will likely be between the BJP and Congress.
The BJP has announced Dr. Jitendra Singh and Jugal Kishore as its candidates for the Udhampur and Jammu Lok Sabha constituencies, respectively. The BJP aims to announce its candidates for the three seats in Kashmir soon. J&K BJP chief Ravinder Raina expressed confidence in winning all seats in J&K, citing progress in marginalizing separatists and reducing terrorism.
The central leadership of the BJP is actively engaging with local party leaders to assess the party’s prospects in the upcoming elections. Strategic decisions have been made to connect with various communities, including Gujjars, Bakerwals, Paharis, SCs, residents along the border and LoC, POJK displaced individuals, West Pak refugees, Kashmiri Pandits, and backward classes.
The Congress is likely to field former Deputy Chief Minister Tara Chand from the Jammu Lok Sabha seat.
Additionally, the J&K Apni Party led by Altaf Bukhari and the Democratic Azad Party led by Ghulam Nabi Azad are in talks to form a joint alliance for the polls. Ghulam Nabi Azad has been campaigning in both Jammu and Kashmir in recent weeks.
DAP leader Salman Nizami says that discussions with like-minded parties for an alliance in the upcoming elections are in the initial stages, with the final decision to be made by Ghulam Nabi Azad in the coming days. These parties will contest on promises of restoring statehood and ending dynasty politics in J&K.