||Black and White Digital News ||

||Parvinder Singh August 02 ,2024 ||

Jammu : As the Election Commission of India initiates the process for the upcoming Assembly polls in Jammu and Kashmir alongside three other states, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is gearing up to launch its election campaign with a rally on August 5 in the border town of R S Pura. Although BJP leaders remain tight-lipped about the lineup of senior leaders expected to attend, sources hint that Defence Minister Rajnath Singh might address the gathering.

“Defence Minister Rajnath Singh is likely to address the rally, but there is no official confirmation so far,” revealed a senior BJP leader. “Union Minister G Kishan Reddy, the election in-charge for J&K, along with Tarun Chugh, in-charge of J&K BJP, will address the rally.”

Strategic Launch Date:

The BJP’s choice of August 5 for the campaign launch is far from coincidental. This date marks the fifth anniversary of the abrogation of Articles 370 and 35-A, a historic move by the BJP-led government that fundamentally altered Jammu and Kashmir’s special status within India.

On August 5, 2019, the Centre, under BJP’s leadership, took the bold step of nullifying Article 35-A and revising key clauses of Article 370, integrating Jammu and Kashmir more closely with the rest of the country. This anniversary will serve as a rallying point for the BJP, galvanizing support and reminding the electorate of the party’s significant achievements in the region.

Mobilizing the Heartland:

The rally in R S Pura aims to mobilize workers from the crucial Jammu-South and Suchetgarh Assembly segments. These areas hold particular importance for the BJP, with Suchetgarh being a traditional stronghold where the party has consistently performed well, barring a setback in 2002.

“The party leadership, after thorough discussions, decided to kick off the election campaign at R S Pura,” a source within the BJP disclosed. “This move is intended to energize our base in both the Jammu-South and Suchetgarh segments.”

Electoral Landscape:

The recent Lok Sabha elections provided a mixed bag of results for the BJP in these segments. In Jammu-South, which was part of the Gandhi Nagar assembly segment, BJP’s Jugal Kishore Sharma trailed with 37,798 votes against Congress’s Bhalla, who garnered 44,162 votes. Similarly, in the Suchetgarh assembly segment, Bhalla led with 42,248 votes, while Sharma secured 37,442 votes.

However, it’s noteworthy that in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, Jugal Kishore Sharma managed to secure 38,998 votes in Suchetgarh, significantly ahead of Bhalla’s 9,835 votes, showcasing the fluctuating dynamics in this critical region.

High Stakes and Key Players:

The upcoming rally, expected to be a grand affair, underscores the BJP’s commitment to reclaiming its dominance in Jammu and Kashmir. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh’s potential presence highlights the significance of this event, given his stature and influence within the party and the nation.

Union Minister G Kishan Reddy, appointed as the election in-charge for Jammu and Kashmir on June 17, will play a pivotal role in steering the campaign. His leadership, alongside Tarun Chugh’s strategic oversight, is expected to energize the BJP cadre and set the tone for an aggressive campaign.

Focus on Achievements:

The BJP plans to leverage the fifth anniversary of the abrogation of Article 370 to highlight its governance achievements and promise of development. “We aim to remind the people of the transformative changes brought about by the abrogation,” a senior BJP strategist explained. “This is a celebration of our commitment to integrating Jammu and Kashmir fully with the rest of the nation.”

As the countdown to the Assembly elections begins, all eyes are on the BJP’s rally in R S Pura. With high-profile leaders expected to galvanize support, the party’s strategic choice of date and location underscores its focus on historical milestones and regional strongholds. The coming days will reveal how effectively the BJP can translate its central achievements into local electoral victories, setting the stage for a high-stakes political battle in Jammu and Kashmir.

With the political landscape in Jammu and Kashmir poised for significant shifts, the BJP’s campaign launch on August 5 is set to be a defining moment, not just for the party, but for the entire region as it stands on the cusp of another pivotal election.