After subdued start, election campaign to gain momentum with Yogi’s rally today

BJP, Cong leaders gear up for mega political rallies in next two weeks

Jammu: After an unusually subdued and quiet electioneering thus far, the campaign for two prestigious Lok Sabha seats of Jammu region--Udhampur and Jammu-Reasi seats--is poised to intensify starting tomorrow with Uttar Pradesh chief minister and BJP’s star campaigner Adityanath Yogi holding the first mega political rally at Sports Stadium in Kathua town.
Yogi will address the mega rally in support of the BJP candidate from Udhampur, Dr Jitendra Singh, vying for a third term from the Udhampur seat. A couple of days later, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to address a mega rally for both the BJP candidates from Jammu--Dr Jitendra Singh and Jugal Kishore Sharma, who is also seeking a third term from Jammu-Reasi, at Modi Ground in Udhampur on April 12.
So far, the election campaign has been notably muted, lacking the usual flurry of posters and big hoardings. Slogans, once the mainstay of any election campaigning, are also conspicuous by their absence. However, campaigning is all set to pick up momentum from tomorrow as political heavyweights from the ruling BJP as well as opposition parties are scheduled to hold mega rallies during the next two weeks.
The Udhampur constituency is slated for polling on April 19, while voting for the Jammu-Reasi seat will take place on April 26.
“There are very few days left for the Parliament election here and it is heart-warming to listen to the Prime Minister in the rally being organised in Udhampur. The public is very enthusiastic to participate in the rally on April 12 and it is expected that more than two lakh people will attend the rally," J&K BJP president Ravinder Raina recently said while addressing a preparatory meeting for the rally.
Sources within the BJP said the Union Home Minister Amit Shah, whose proposed election rally in Raipur-Domana was cancelled following unavoidable circumstances, is also expected to join the campaign in J&K once a new date for his rally is finalized.
“Defence Minister Rajnath Singh is expected to address a large rally at Basohli in Kathua district to seek vote for party candidate Dr Jitendra Singh on April 15. Similarly, former union minister Shahnawaz Hussain is likely to address a rally in Doda town on April 13,” sources said, adding “the BJP national president Jagat Prakash Nadda and Union Minister of Road Transport and National Highways Nitin Gadkari are also expected to campaign for BJP candidates in J&K but their schedule is yet to be finalized”.
“The party leadership has adopted a single slogan, ‘Abkibaar 400 paar,’ which every candidate and leader is relying upon. Our candidates have refrained from creating individual slogans, opting to capitalize on the Modi wave. The slogan has gained traction and is already resonating with the public,” a second-rung leader of the BJP said declining to be named.
On the other hand, as many as 25 star campaigners from the Congress party, including Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi, are expected to address rallies in support of their candidates contesting the Lok Sabha polls in Jammu and Kashmir.
“Congress is contesting only two—Udhampur and Jammu seats--out of five in Jammu and Kashmir. For both the party’s candidates—Choudhary Lal Singh and Raman Bhalla, the party’s star campaigner Priyanka Gandhi is likely to address a rally in Udhampur on April 13, while the election rallies of other senior Congress leaders are being finalized. Top Congress leaders will be joined by NC president Farooq Abdullah and other national leaders of opposition parties,” a senior Congress leader said.

Updated On 4/10/2024 3:13:38 AM