Jammu, Udhampur constituencies witness mish-mash of issue-personality based campaigning

Jammu, Apr 9:  Electioneering has intensified in Udhampur and Jammu parliamentary constituencies of Jammu and Kashmir as star campaigners to seek support for main candidates in fray, will start arriving from tomorrow.

Both these constituencies of Jammu region will go to polls in the first two phases of General Elections 2024.

Election is scheduled on April 19 in the first phase for Udhampur Lok Sabha seat and on April 26 for Jammu parliamentary constituency in the second phase.

Flurry of top campaigners will commence with the senior leader of Bharatiya Janata Party and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, who will campaign in favour of the party candidate from Udhampur and union minister Dr Jitendra Singh in Kathua on April 10.

Party’s electioneering will reach its crescendo on April 12 when the Prime Minister Narendra Modi, BJP’s topmost star campaigner, will address a rally in Udhampur to seek support for his deputy (MoS in PMO) Dr Jitendra.

Though Congress has yet to come out with a confirmed schedule of its star campaigners even for the first phase yet party insiders have revealed that former Deputy Chief Minister of Rajasthan Sachin Pilot and the Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh, Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu are likely to come after Eid for electioneering.

“Request has also been sent for senior party leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi for campaigning in Jammu region yet a confirmed schedule is still awaited,” they add.

The significance of these two seats from Jammu region traditionally has been, more so in the recent past, a straight contest between two national parties Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Congress, unlike other three seats in Kashmir region.

Following delimitation, political equations have undergone a sea change in three constituencies of Kashmir, including newly carved Anantnag-Rajouri parliamentary seat (replacing erstwhile Anantnag seat) yet interestingly in case of both seats of Jammu region, scenario, broadly speaking, is almost the same.

Traditional rivals, both national parties, are pitted against each other in a direct contest, in terms of winnability. Though in the case of Udhampur LS seat, the presence of Democratic Progressive Azad Party (DPAP) candidate has added zing to the election, making it a kind of triangular contest. DPAP star campaigner and the former Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad is already vigorously campaigning for Saroori.

MISH-MASH OF ISSUE-PERSONALITY BASED CAMPAIGN

It is being perceived that the star campaigners of key contenders i.e., BJP and Congress, as and when they come, with their star-appeal will give a direct and clear orientation to the issues to be taken as core of their respective parties’ electioneering. However, presently the campaigning, being run by the local leadership and (both parties’) in-charge J&K affairs has emerged as a mish-mash of issues and personalities.

The build-up of BJP’s campaign as usual revolves around its Talisman (Prime Minister Narendra Modi) and the revolutionary changes encompassing the development trajectory, both in J&K as well as across the country, achieved under his leadership. “Unprecedented all inclusive development, focussing mainly on four crucial pillars of society viz., poor, youth, farmers and women and ‘Naya J&K’ evolved post Article 370, disseminating justice to Valmikis Paharis, Gujjar-Bakerwals, SCs, STs, OBCs, PoJK and West Pak refugees and other sections have been our issues. They actually form our progress cum performance report, achieved under the visionary leadership of PM Modi,” senior BJP leaders state.

Going by the mood and electioneering pattern of BJP leadership, Article 370 will be the fulcrum of the party's campaigning as it has already set its target to achieve “370 seats in 2024” and “Ab Ke Baar, 400 Paar” for NDA.

If this is the catch-phrase for the country, how can J&K, from where it originates, be an exception?

Opposition in two parliamentary constituencies too has structured its campaigning around it. “By repealing Article 370, BJP has deprived J&K of its identity, statehood and its citizens of their exclusive rights to jobs and lands,” is the opposition’s refrain.

BJP candidate Dr Jitendra too has a retort to it. “Will Congress and its candidate clear their stand on Art 370? Will they snatch rights granted to Valmikis, West-Pak refugees, Paharis, women and other deprived sections?” he asks.

As far as personality-based electioneering is concerned, Congress is awaiting Gandhis, mainly Rahul and Priyanka to build the momentum.