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Tag: J&K Election 2024

  • J&K Assembly Polls: PM Modi To Rev Up BJP Campaign With Rally In Srinagar On September 19 |

    J&K Assembly Polls: In a bid to boost the Bharatiya Janata Party’s campaign for the upcoming Jammu and Kashmir Assembly elections, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to hold a mega rally in Srinagar on September 19. His visit will take place a day after the first Phase of polls in J&K.

    Speaking on the Prime Minister’s visit, the BJP’s Media in charge, Advocate Sajid Yousuf said, “PM Modi will be visiting Kashmir to address a rally of BJP workers at SK Park Srinagar on September 19, a day after the first phase of Assembly polls” . According to the saffron party sources, the rally will boost the confidence of party candidates who are in fray and workers for the second phase of polls, which are scheduled to be held on September 25.

    According to a BJP spokesperson, around 30,000 party workers are expected to attend the rally. “Senior BJP Leader Mohammad Anwar Khan has been designated as the in-charge for the rally,” the spokesperson said. Polling will be held in three phases on September 18, September 25, and October 1, while the counting of the votes will be undertaken on October 8.

    Meanwhile, the vice president of the BJP’s Jammu and Kashmir unit, Pawan Khajuria, filed his nomination papers as an independent candidate from the Udhampur East assembly segment on Wednesday.

    Khajuria submitted his nomination papers at the end of his two-day ultimatum to the party leadership to change the official candidate and former MLA RS Pathania from the constituency.

    “I have served the party for 35 years and preferred it over everything else. The workers got rejected after the party decided to give the mandate to a person who indulged in anti-party activities, so I responded to the call of the workers and jumped into the fray,” Khajuria said.

    He expressed confidence of bagging the seat with the blessings of his supporters. “We have surrendered before the party, but it carried out a political murder. The blessings of the people are with me, and I am reborn today,” he said.

    Khajuria filed nomination papers a day after another senior party leader, Chander Mohan Sharma, submitted his papers as an independent candidate from the Jammu East constituency after the ticket was given to Yudhvir Sethi. Two saffron party rebel candidates have already entered the fray from the Ramban and Padder-Nagseni constituencies in Chenab Valley.

  • J&K Polls: BJP’s Bold Move Of Fielding Candidate From Lal Chowk Marks A New Era In Kashmir |

    The BJP’s decision to field a candidate from Lal Chowk itself is a testament to the significant changes occurring in Kashmir, says Engineer Ejaz Hussain. A festive atmosphere was observed at the BJP headquarters in Srinagar following the announcement of BJP candidates from historically significant constituencies like Lal Chowk and Eidgah. In the first two phases of the Jammu and Kashmir assembly elections, the BJP has fielded 13 candidates—eight from South Kashmir and five from Central Kashmir.

    Among these, the key constituencies are Lal Chowk and Eidgah. Lal Chowk holds historical significance as it has been the center of major decisions in Kashmir. Once considered the heart of Kashmir, Lal Chowk witnessed election boycotts and stone-pelting over the last three decades. However, following the abrogation of Article 370, Lal Chowk was revitalized and transformed into a tourist hub, with the tricolor being hoisted on its historic clock tower.

    Years ago, Prime Minister Narendra Modi hoisted the tricolor at this very place when terrorism was at its peak in Kashmir. Today, the BJP has fielded a candidate with the hope that, along with the tricolor, the BJP flag will also fly high from Lal Chowk.

    BJP candidate Engineer Aijaz Hussain, who was previously elected DDC from Lal Chowk, stated, “I have worked a lot for the people of this constituency. We promise only what we can deliver. An MLA cannot bring back Article 370, which the NC and PDP is falsely promising to the people. If a Muslim is elected in BJP, he will speak for the community.” Engineer Hussain expressed his confidence that “this time, the lotus will bloom from Lal Chowk.”

    Eidgah is another significant constituency where the BJP has fielded a candidate. This area, located in the historic downtown of Srinagar, was once synonymous with strikes, stone-pelting, and protests before the removal of Article 370. In the past, downtown Srinagar was a center of separatism and election boycotts, with minimal voter turnout. However, the situation has changed. The Lok Sabha elections saw a significant voter turnout in the area, and the assembly elections are expected to witness record-breaking participation. The BJP has fielded Arif Raja from Eidgah, one of the most crucial constituencies in downtown Srinagar.

    Arif Raja stated, “I have worked tirelessly for the youth of the area, and that is why the picture in Eidgah is different today. My slogan is ‘Sabka Saath, Sabka Vishwas, Sabka Vikas,’ and I am confident that the lotus will bloom in Eidgah for the first time.” When asked about his competition, he added, “I don’t see any real competition in the area. The youth are with me, they are wise, and they will choose the better candidate.”

    The BJP may field additional candidates in the third phase for North Kashmir. However, the party will not contest elections in all constituencies in Kashmir. Instead, they are hopeful that this time the lotus will bloom in Kashmir. The BJP is also in the process of supporting many independent candidates, most of whom are contesting independently after not receiving a mandate from the NC or PDP and have a strong influence in their respective areas. The BJP, which is primarily focusing on Jammu province, is optimistic that with the support of some independent candidates in the valley, it will be able to form a government for the first time in Jammu and Kashmir.