High-octane campaigning ends for phase III

Jammu, Sep 29: Marked by BJP and Congress blitzkrieg, high-octane campaigning for 40 constituencies spread in seven districts, going to polls in the third and final phase of J&K assembly elections ended on Sunday evening.

Being perceived to be the most crucial phase in the run-up to power corridors, the electioneering, both in Kashmir and Jammu divisions, saw the leading star campaigners of almost all political parties going full throttle, seeking support for their candidates.

However, it was an unusually high-powered performance, a kind of blitzkrieg by the topmost leaders of two national parties and traditional rivals i.e., Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Congress, which, in particular, captured everyone’s attention.

Out of 40 assembly segments going to polls on October 1, 16 are in the Kashmir division and 24 are in the Jammu division. While in Kashmir, regional political forces, primarily National Conference, Peoples Democratic Party, J&K Apni Party besides independents, are dominating the scene, in Jammu, in majority of the assembly segments, BJP and Congress are in direct contest.

Heavyweights of both the BJP and Congress, including several former ministers and legislators, are locked in pitched battles, thus making it an intriguing affair.

Given the high stakes involved, both the parties roped in their top leaders to hold the front and woo the electorate.

From the BJP side, it was the Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Union Home Minister Amit Shah, who led from the front to gain an edge over the opponent. To match the duo, Congress also brought in its star-power Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi besides AICC President Mallikarjun Kharge.

The Prime Minister addressed the mega “Vijay Sankalp” rally at M A Stadium on September 18. Same day, Priyanka also addressed a rally at Bishnah. On September 25, Rahul Gandhi had an electioneering date with J&K. He was scheduled to visit on September 27 as well. However, he could not do so due to inclement weather conditions. Kharge campaigned for his party on the last day of electioneering also as he addressed an election rally in Jasrota. He had to cut short his visit due to ill-health.

Besides them, other prominent star campaigners, who hit the campaign trail in the last phase also included Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, who campaigned in Gurez in Kashmir division on the last day of electioneering.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, former Union Minister Anurag Thakur for BJP and Congress’ star campaigner Sahin Pilot too hit the campaign trail in this phase.

Among 415 candidates, there are several former ministers and legislators whose political fate will be sealed in the EVMs on October 1.

Prominent among those included former Deputy Chief Minister Tara Chand, former ministers Raman Bhalla, Harsh Dev Singh, Dr Manohar Lal Sharma, Chowdhary Lal Singh, Mula Ram, Yogesh Sawhney – all from Congress, Jugal Kishore Sharma, contesting as independent, Sham Lal Sharma, Surjit Singh Slathia, Devender Singh Rana and Balwant Singh Mankotia from BJP and Ajay Kumar Sadhotra from National Conference.

In the beginning, the issues dominating the campaign continued to revolve around Article 370, statehood, terrorism, employment and power.

The National Conference’s manifesto proved to be a potent weapon in the hands of BJP to target its (NC’s) alliance partner, Congress.

However, during the last phase, the leading campaigners of BJP, including the Prime Minister and the Union Home Minister charged up the atmosphere by giving a spin to electioneering and making it an election as “a historic opportunity for Jammu to lead and form its own (BJP) government for the first time in the history of J&K.” “For the first time, a government in line with the aspirations of the Jammu region is going to be there. Don’t leave this opportunity,” was PM Modi’s take.