Page 4 - The Indian EYE 091324

BIG STORY SEPTEMBER 13, 2024 | The Indian Eye 4

JAMMU & KASHMIR ELECTIONS

THE BIG

FIGHT!

As the state goes to polls for the first time since the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019, the two biggest parties jump

into the fray with bags full of different promises, including full statehood. What is this election battle all about?

OUR BUREAU
Srinagar/Jammu

all it the big battle. After the
general elections which just
Cconcluded in June, the coun-
try’s two biggest parties – BJP and
Congress – are face to face again. This
time for the hearts and souls of Jam-
mu and Kashmir. These will be the
first elections in Kashmir since the ab-
rogation of Article 370 five years ago.
The abrogation of Article 370 led
to the revocation of the state’s spe-
cial status and its bifurcation into two
Union Territories in 2019.
Jammu and Kashmir has 90 as-
sembly constituencies, with 7 seats
reserved for Scheduled Castes (SCs)
and 9 for Scheduled Tribes (STs).
Polling in Jammu and Kashmir will be
conducted in three phases on Septem-
ber 18, 25, and October 1. The count-
ing of votes will be held on October 8.
The first phase of the Jammu and
Kashmir assembly elections will see
219 candidates in the fray, with voting
scheduled for September 18. This will
be the first assembly election in Jam-
mu and Kashmir since the abrogation
of Article 370. The second phase will Lok Sabha LoP and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and Jammu and Kashmir National Conference (JKNC) President Farooq Abdullah hold hands
be held on September 25, and third on during an election rally, at Dooru in Anantnag on Wednesday (ANI Photo)
October 1, with the results announced
on October 8. Defense Minister Rajnath Singh. The campaigners also includes former of electioneering for the Jammu and
As the state gets ready for polling, party has also chosen Union Ministers Amethi MP Smriti Irani. Kashmir Legislative Assembly. In a
both BJP and Congress are putting including JP Nadda, Shivraj Singh Meanwhile, Union Home Minis- notification issued on Thursday, the
their heavy-weights into the election Chouhan, Nitin Gadkari, Manohar ter Amit Shah will release the Bharati- Congress party has named INC pres-
fray and campaigning. Lal Khattar and G Kishan Reddy. ya Janata Party’s (BJP) election man- ident Mallikarjun Kharge, Congress
The Bharatiya Janata Party on Along with them, Himachal ifesto for the Jammu and Kashmir Parliamentary Party Chairperson
Thursday released its list of star cam- Pradesh LoP Jai Ram Thakur, Union assembly elections and will meet with Sonia Gandhi, Congress MP Rahul
paigners for the second phase of the MoS Jitendra Singh, Uttar Pradesh the core group of the state’s BJP unit Gandhi, Congress General Secretar-
Jammu and Kashmir assembly polls, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, Ra- to review the party’s election prepara- ies Priyanka Gandhi, KC Venugopal,
which is scheduled to be held on Sep- jasthan CM Bhajanlal Sharma, BJP tions and ground-level activities. and Jairam Ramesh as star campaign-
tember 25. The list of star campaign- National General Secretary Tarun Not to be left behind, the Indi- ers in the run-up to the second phase
ers includes party’s prominent leaders, Chugh, MP Anurag Thakur will also an National Congress has also an- polling.
including Prime Minister Narendra campaign for the party in the second nounced 40-star campaigners on Even as the two parties launch
Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, phase of J-K polls. The list of 40-star Thursday to lead the second phase Continued on next page... >>

www.TheIndianEYE.com