SRINAGAR: The high-pitched campaigning for the third and final phase of polling in the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly elections concluded on Sunday evening, with major political parties engaging in fierce exchanges over Article 370, statehood and terrorism.
Voting will be held on October 1 in 40 assembly constituencies, including 24 in Jammu and 16 in the Valley. For the first time in over three decades, there was a high-octane poll campaign in both Jammu and Kashmir regions. Analysts say political leaders and candidates campaigned openly without any fear and threat, and there was greater participation of people in poll-related events.
It was the first assembly poll since abrogation of Articles 370 and 35A and bifurcation of J&K state into two Union Territories on August 5, 2019. It was also the first assembly poll in J&K in a decade — the last poll was held in 2014.
The parties used star campaigners to woo the voters and drum up public support in their favour. Being the first elections after the scrapping of J&K’s special status, the campaigns remained centred on Article 370 and statehood.
BJP leaders including PM Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, party chief JP Nadda and UP CM Yogi Adityanath campaigned in the polls and their focus remained Article 370 abrogation and the peace it brought to the region and doing away with discrimination by granting citizenship and voting rights to West Pakistan refugees and reservation to Gujjars, Bakerwals, Paharis and other communities.
Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge and senior leader Rahul Gandhi led the party campaign with the focus on restoration of statehood to J&K, filling one lakh government jobs and freebies on electricity. Although Congress leaders shied away from discussing Article 370, they talked about safeguarding jobs and land rights of local population. The regional parties — NC, PDP and Peoples Conference — majorly focused on restoration of Article 370 and statehood and jobs for unemployed youth.
Baramulla MP Er Rashid, who heads the Awami Ittihad Party and is on an interim bail till October 2, called for resolution of the Kashmir issue, holding talks with all stakeholders in J&K, restoration of Article 370 and statehood.