Union Home Minister Amit Shah has officially stated that Article 370, which granted special status to Jammu and Kashmir, will never be restored as it is now "history." During his visit to the valley, Shah also announced the release of a new BJP manifesto for the upcoming Assembly elections, which includes promises of development and progress for the state. The removal of Article 370 in 2019 has sparked controversy and division among political parties in the region, with some promising to restore it if elected into power. However, Shah made it clear that the BJP will never allow it to be reinstated, stating that it only caused harm to the youth and stability of the state.
With the Assembly polls nearing, Home Minister Amit Shah lambasted the Congress-NC alliance during a rally in Jammu, accusing them of attempting to revive the "old system" in the region. He also promised that statehood would be restored at an "appropriate time" after the elections, and emphasized that the NDA government will continue to combat terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir. The BJP's manifesto for the upcoming polls includes a unique scheme that will provide financial assistance to the eldest woman in every family and free gas cylinders under the Ujjwala scheme.
Former Union Minister and senior BJP leader Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi criticized Congress leader Rahul Gandhi for his assurance that the INDIA bloc government will bring back statehood to Jammu and Kashmir if the present BJP government fails to do so. Naqvi accused the Congress of destroying happiness, development, and trust in J&K and claimed that Gandhi's promise is only for the benefit of separatists. He also mocked the previous elections in J&K as a joke, citing low voter turnout and alleged tampering. However, he expressed confidence in the upcoming elections being conducted transparently, including the first poll since the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019. The National Conference and Congress have announced a pre-poll seat-sharing agreement, with the NC contesting in majority of the seats.
In an attempt to stop construction work being done by the Pakistani army near the Line of Control, the Indian Army has reportedly fired warning shots in the Gurez sector of Jammu and Kashmir. The motive behind the construction work is currently unclear, but sources suggest it may be related to infiltration attempts. Stay tuned for more updates on this developing situation. Meanwhile, in political news, Rahul Gandhi is set to address two rallies in Jammu and Kashmir, and the ECI has issued a notification for the second phase of the state's assembly elections.
The National Conference released its second list of candidates for the Jammu and Kashmir assembly elections, with the most prominent name being former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah. Abdullah will be contesting from the Ganderbal assembly constituency, previously represented by his father and grandfather who have also held the position of Chief Minister. The NC, in alliance with Congress and other parties, will be contesting in 85 of the 90 assembly seats, with five seats having a "friendly contest." This marks the party's progress in declaring candidates for the three-phase elections.
The National Conference has announced that former chief minister Omar Abdullah will be contesting from the Ganderbal constituency in the upcoming Jammu and Kashmir assembly elections. The constituency has traditionally been a strong hold for the party, with three generations of the Abdullah family being elected there in the past. The announcement came as the party released its second list of candidates, and amidst an alliance with the Congress in the union territory. In other political news, the speaker of the Odisha assembly has called for an all party meet after opposition parties caused a ruckus over reservation issues. Meanwhile, in Kolkata, the rape case involving a doctor has led to protests, with police resorting to using lathi-charges and tear gas to control the situation.
During his visit to Srinagar, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi engaged in a candid conversation with Kashmiri women students about the upcoming elections, the status of Jammu and Kashmir, and their own experiences concerning marriage. He expressed the need to restore statehood and proper representation for the people of Jammu, Kashmir, and Ladakh, while also criticising Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership style.
JKNC Vice President Omar Abdullah has criticized the BJP for their handling of the upcoming Jammu and Kashmir elections, stating that the party should prioritize getting their own house in order rather than releasing lists of candidates that they then quickly withdraw. He also highlighted reports of chaos and violence within BJP offices. While the party announced 44 candidates initially, they later withdrew the list and released a revised version with only 15 candidates, sparking speculation about internal issues within the BJP. The Jammu and Kashmir elections are set to take place in three phases starting in September, with 90 assembly constituencies up for grabs.
In a move to solidify their position in the upcoming Jammu and Kashmir assembly elections, the BJP has announced its first list of candidates with 10 Muslim candidates and only one woman candidate. The list also includes candidates from the Parihar community, both of whom are former MLAs. The elections, to be held in three phases, will see a fierce battle between the BJP, PDP, and the National Conference-Congress alliance. The results will be declared on 4 October, along with Haryana, increasing the stakes for the BJP in both states.
Congress and National Conference leaders will meet to discuss alliance and iron out differences over seat-sharing for the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly polls. The central leadership of Congress will hold talks with the Abdullahs in Srinagar to address any issues that have arisen during negotiations between the local leadership of the parties. While both parties have reached a general agreement on seat-sharing, some clarification is needed before an official announcement is made. Despite the hiccups, both parties remain committed to their alliance and are hopeful that things will be resolved by the end of the day.