J-K Elections: PM Modi to address high-profile rallies in Jammu and Kashmir post Sept 8

Jammu, Sept 04: Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to kickstart the Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) campaign for the upcoming Assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir with three high-profile rallies. The rallies, scheduled to begin after September 8, will include two events in the Jammu region and one in the Kashmir Valley, aiming to bolster the party’s chances in the Union Territory’s first Assembly elections in a decade.
The BJP’s campaign is expected to focus heavily on the abrogation of Article 370, which ended Jammu and Kashmir’s special status, as well as the development initiatives implemented since then. The introduction of a quota for Scheduled Castes (SC) and Scheduled Tribes (ST) in Assembly seats for the first time in the region will also be a key point of emphasis.
One of the rallies is likely to be held in Doda, a district in Jammu that has recently been the site of several militant attacks. This visit comes at a crucial time, as the BJP looks to consolidate its support base in the Jammu region, which has historically been a stronghold for the party.
The elections, beginning on September 18, will see 90 seats contested in the newly delineated Assembly. The BJP is aiming to secure at least 35 of the 43 seats in the Jammu region and make significant inroads in the Kashmir Valley. The party’s leadership is optimistic about its prospects, given its strong performance in the recent Lok Sabha elections, where it led in 30 Assembly segments.
In Kashmir, the BJP is strategizing to leverage smaller parties and independent candidates to dilute the vote share of established regional parties like the National Conference (NC) and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). The long hiatus since the last state elections is expected to lead to a crowded field of candidates in each constituency.
Anurag Thakur, BJP MP and former Union minister, who is heavily involved in the campaign, emphasized that the abrogation of Article 370 has brought peace, prosperity, and development to the region. He also highlighted the increased tourist influx and revenue generation as signs of positive change under the Modi administration.
Thakur further stated that Prime Minister Modi’s popularity and the introduction of SC/ST quotas in Assembly seats, along with the expansion of the ST list, will play a crucial role in swaying voters in the BJP’s favor. “We are confident that the people of Jammu and Kashmir will choose stability, development, and a BJP-led government in the upcoming elections,” he added.