"We are stopping them from occupying seat of power in J-K": Omar Abdullah on BJP

Doda, Sep 12: National Conference Vice President and former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said on Thursday that they are working to stop the BJP from occupying the "seat of power" in the Union Territory.

Omar said, "If the BJP does not target us, then will it praise us? We are competing with them. We are stopping them from occupying the seat of power in J-K. We have to take account from them for what they have done in the last 10 years."

Notably, the 2024 Assembly elections will mark the first local elections in Jammu and Kashmir since the abrogation of Article 370. Elections will be held in three phases in September and October - September 18, September 25, and October 1 and the counting of votes will take place on October 8.

Meanwhile, Baramulla MP Rashid Engineer left for Jammu and Kashmir on Thursday after being granted interim bail by Delhi's special NIA court in a terror funding case, he said that the election is important as Kashmir is at a crucial stage. Lashing out at the centre, he said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of 'Naya Kashmir' will collapse.

"I will just say that truth will prevail. I hope for the justice. The election is important as Kashmir is at a crucial stage. The people of J-K will successfully fight for justice as they are united. PM Modi's so-called vision of 'Naya Kashmir' will fail," said Rashid Engineer.

Meanwhile, BJP has made 25 promises, focussing on women, youths, Kashmiri Pandits, restoring temples and wiping out terrorism BJP J-K chief Ravinder Raina described the manifesto as a 'people's manifesto'.

BJP, in its manifesto, focused on women-led development in Jammu and Kashmir.

It promised to implement 'Maa Samman Yojana' to provide Rs 18,000 per year to the senior most woman in every household in Jammu and Kashmir.

The party has also promised to assist the state government for Women SHGs on the issue of interest on bank loans.

There are a total number of 90 Assembly constituencies in Jammu and Kashmir, out of which 7 seats are reserved for SCs and 9 seats are reserved for STs.

According to the Election Commission of India, Jammu and Kashmir has 88.06 lakh eligible electors.

In the previous Assembly elections, the People's Democratic Party (PDP) won 28 seats, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) secured 25, the Jammu and Kashmir National Conference (NC) won 15, and the Congress won 12.