Jammu constituency gears up for high-voltage campaigning

Jammu, Apr 13:  Following the campaign blitzkrieg in Udhampur parliamentary seat, going to polls in the first phase on April 19, now it is the turn of Jammu Lok Sabha seat to witness high-voltage electioneering.

In the case of Udhampur seat, the campaigning reached its crescendo with the election rally of none other than the Prime Minister Narendra Modi on April 12.

Interestingly, in Jammu parliamentary constituency also, the party is going to seize the initiative as other star-campaigner of BJP and the Union Home Minister Amit Shah is scheduled to address a mega electoral rally on April 16 at Manhas Mahasabha Ground, Paloura, in favour of party nominee Jugal Kishore Sharma.

The constituency will go to polls during the second phase of the electoral process on April 26, 2024.

While the party's main opponent Congress’ star campaigners have yet to visit both the crucial constituencies.

Prior to the Union Home Minister’s visit, another big-wig of BJP and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will be in Basohli on April 15 for an electoral rally to seek support for party candidate Dr Jitendra Singh.

PM Modi, who is the Bharatiya Janata Party’s top-most campaigner, during his Udhampur rally not only struck an emotional chord with the people to seek their support for BJP’s both candidates viz., Union Minister of State in PMO Dr Jitendra Singh, contesting from Udhampur and Jugal Kishore Sharma, in electoral fray from Jammu seat, but also gave direct orientation to poll campaign by focussing on main poll-planks.

With HM Shah’s visit lined-up after the PM’s visit, it is being anticipated that he will stimulate party rank and file to further intensify the poll campaign and build momentum around the issues, clearly outlined by the Prime Minister, to take on political detractors.

Focus will remain on “benefits arising out of abrogation of Article 370; revolutionary changes in Naya Jammu & Kashmir; magnificent futuristic vision for it (J&K)” and taking on Congress and its I.N.D.I. Alliance for “repeatedly hurting sentiments of majority community for appeasement” against BJP’s “all-inclusive development agenda.” Modi’s guarantees will, of course, dominate the election discourse, as elsewhere in the country.

More star-campaigners of BJP will follow Shah in Jammu and Rajnath in Udhampur LS seats to give a trailblazing effect to the party's poll campaign.

Meanwhile, Congress is awaiting a nod to the schedule of its topmost campaigners (read Gandhis).

Jammu parliamentary constituency is witnessing a straight electoral battle between the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Congress.

BJP has fielded its incumbent Member Parliament (MP) (Jugal Kishore Sharma) while Congress has also repeated its nominee i.e., former minister Raman Bhalla. Bhalla is a common candidate of I.N.D.I. Alliance of which both National Conference (NC) and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) are constituents.

Both Jugal and Bhalla were pitted against each other in the 2019 electoral battle as well. Jugal is in the fray to reclaim this seat, straight for the third time. In 2019, he had defeated the Congress candidate Raman Bhalla with a margin of 3,02,875 votes as NC and PDP had not fielded their candidates. In 2014, Jugal had won this seat again defeating Congress candidate Madan Lal Sharma, with a victory margin of 2.57 lakh votes.

Following delimitation, Jammu parliamentary constituency comprises 18 assembly constituencies which include 11 from Jammu; three from Samba and Reasi district each and one Rajouri’s Kalakote assembly constituency. Total electors are 17.66 lakh.

Meanwhile, earlier during the day, J&K BJP president Ravinder Raina, while sharing the schedule of Union Home Minister’s rally in Jammu with his party colleagues, took stock of arrangements for the convenience of the public and the provision of basic amenities there at the venue.

Raina was also accompanied by Vibodh Gupta, general secretary; Bharat Bhushan, chairperson DDC; Pawan Sharma, incharge Vistarak Yojana; Sanjay Baru, senior leader; Omi Khajuria, district president; Shiv Dev Singh, ex MLA; Parduman Singh, Dil Bahadur Jamwal, Rakesh Gupta, Raveesh Mengi besides other leaders of party.

Raina said that with strong decisive governance, the Union Home Minister ensured peace and stability in Jammu and Kashmir.

“Controversial Articles 370 & 35 (a), which were a major hurdle in the peace, progress and prosperity in Jammu & Kashmir, could only be removed under the strong leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah. The residents of Jammu & Kashmir are highly thankful to both of them. To express their gratitude there will be a massive rush of people at the rally site to listen to Union Home Minister Amit Shah in Manhas Mahasabha Ground on April 16,” Raina said.

He also asked the party leaders to meticulously plan everything related to the rally to facilitate the easy movement of the public and to oversee all the necessary arrangements for the smooth conduct of the rally.