Political arena in Jammu & Kashmir abuzz after announcement of assembly elections

With the announcement of Assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir, the political parties in the Union Territory have already stepped up the poll preparations.

The Election Commission of India announced Assembly Elections for Jammu and Kashmir willstart on September 18. The election will be held in three phases, and the counting will be held on October 8.

The political circles are once again abuzz in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir as assembly elections will be held in the UT after 10 long years. Within few days of the announcement, many political leaders have already switched sides and joined other political parties. Senior Leader Taj Mohiuddin has once again joined Congress party and left Ghulam Nabi Azad's DPAP. Former Minister and APNI Party leader has also quit and joined the Bharatiya Janata Party.

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Meanwhile, the Vice President of Jammu and Kashmir National Conference Omar Abdullah released the Party Manifesto in Srinagar on Monday. The main issue in the manifesto still remains the revocation of Article 370 and 35a. It also talks about restoring statehood.

''Our manifesto was not prepared while sitting in office but took in consideration the opinions of people. It focusses on Restoration of our Political and Legal Status which is article 370 and 35a. Also about restoring the Statehood. We will also repeal all the new laws that have been introduced due to which our lands are being given away. It also speaks about the people languishing in jails, we will give amnesty to all political prisoners and repeal the PSA," said Omar Abdullah, former CM of Jammu and Kashmir.

The manifesto also speaks about advocating for Indo-Pak dialogue as the best method to resolve ongoing conflicts. It also says that the JKNC is strongly committed to the dignified return and rehabilitation of Kashmiri Pandits. Not only that, NC also announced freebies for the citizens, includingfree education for all till university, and 200 units of electricity for every household.

''Electricity prices are going up and water is not available everywhere, we will address this as well. We will give 200 units free electricity. ‎Free education will be given to the students of J&K upto University level. We will favour the India-Pakistan talks and support the CBM’s that were put at the time of Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Manmohan Singh,'' saidOmar.

None of the political parties have announced any alliance, but Congress and National Conference will soon discuss it. The National Conference has said that they will speak to the higher ups in Congress regarding a pre-poll alliance, while Congress leaders in Srinagar have said that they are open to ally with like-minded parties. Congressstate president Tariq Qarra said in Srinagar that they will talk to regional political parties regarding an alliance.

''As far as the alliance, we are open to like-minded people or the parties to forge an alliance with them. NC has directly approached the party leadership in Delhi for a pre-poll alliance. If parties are of the idea that we have to defeat divisive forces and BJP, they will definitely ally with the Congress. And we will definitely succeed,” said Qarra.

Jammu and Kashmir will see a lot of new faces in the upcoming assembly elections as well.