Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Jammu and Kashmir on Saturday for his first campaign event in the union territory since the announcement of Assembly polls. He is scheduled to address a BJP election rally in Doda district, where voting for eight Assembly seats across three districts in Chenab Valley is set for September 18.
Rally Venue and Security Measures
Party sources revealed that the choice of Doda for the rally was personally selected by PM Modi. The visit comes as residents of Doda have expressed a desire to see and hear the Prime Minister. Depending on his schedule, Modi might also address another rally in Jammu division on the same day.
Security forces have heightened measures in Chenab Valley, with a high alert in place to ensure safety for the Prime Minister and the large crowd expected. The BJP anticipates that Modi’s visit will enhance the party’s electoral prospects. The Prime Minister is also expected to visit Srinagar on September 19 for another rally.
Election Schedule and Context
The J&K Assembly elections will occur in three phases: September 18, September 25, and October 1. Vote counting is scheduled for October 8. This will be the first Assembly election in J&K since the abrogation of Articles 370 and 35A. Previously, J&K had a PDP-BJP coalition government, which fell in June 2018, leading to Governor’s rule and the dissolution of the Assembly. On August 5, 2019, the state was reorganized into the Union Territories of J&K and Ladakh.
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