Sonia, Rahul among star campaigners of INC for J&K elections

Srinagar, Mar 30: In a strategic manoeuvre ahead of the impending Parliamentary elections in Jammu and Kashmir, the Indian National Congress (INC) has unveiled a formidable list of 27 star campaigners.

Led by party president Mallikarjun Kharge, the lineup includes stalwarts such as Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, along with two Chief Ministers and other senior national leaders. The comprehensive list was submitted by INC general secretary KC Venugopal to the Secretary of the Election Commission of India, marking a significant step in the party’s preparations for the electoral battleground in Jammu and Kashmir.

Prominent campaigners in the roster are Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh, and Revanth Reddy, Chief Minister of Telangana, who will bolster the Congress’s campaign efforts in the region. Additionally, former Uttarakhand Chief Minister Harish Rawat and actor-turned-politician Raj Babbar are set to lend their support in the Union Territory.

Rahul Gandhi’s previous engagements in Jammu and Kashmir, including the Bharat Jodo Yatra in 2022, underscore the party’s commitment to J&K. Kharge’s upcoming visit, however, will mark his inaugural tour to the UT since assuming the role of Congress president.

With the Congress contesting only two Lok Sabha seats in Jammu and Kashmir—Jammu-Reasi and Udhampur-Doda—the focus of the campaign is expected to be on the Jammu division. The party has strategically reserved three other seats for the INDIA block candidates. Raman Bhalla and Choudhary Lal Singh have been nominated as Congress candidates for the Jammu-Reasi and Udhampur-Doda constituencies, respectively, reflecting the party’s targeted approach in the region.

The line-up of star campaigners also includes Ambika Soni, Sachin Pilot, Bharatsinh Solanki, and other prominent leaders, indicating a concerted effort by the Congress to bolster its presence in Jammu and Kashmir. Despite historical challenges in the region, with the Congress not securing a Lok Sabha seat since 2009, the alliance with the National Conference (NC) and the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) signifies a united front against the incumbent Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP).

As the electoral landscape in Jammu and Kashmir continues to evolve, the unveiling of star campaigners signals the Congress’s determination to reclaim its foothold in J&K and vie for electoral success in the forthcoming polls.