Akhilesh Yadav’s Samajwadi Party to Contest Jammu and Kashmir Elections for National Party Status
Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav announced on Saturday that his party will participate in the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly elections. This move is part of the party’s strategy to become a national party. The elections are notable as they are the first to be held in Jammu and Kashmir since the abrogation of Article 370.
Yadav explained, “SP is contesting elections in J&K because they are being held for the first time after the abrogation of Article 370. SP is contesting also because smaller states can contribute to making it a national party much more quickly.”
The Jammu and Kashmir Assembly elections will take place in three phases on September 18, 25, and October 1, with the counting of votes scheduled for October 8. The region has 90 assembly constituencies, with 7 seats reserved for Scheduled Castes (SCs) and 9 seats for Scheduled Tribes (STs).
To be recognized as a national party, a political party must meet one of the three conditions outlined in the Election Symbols (Reservation and Allotment) Order, 1968. These include receiving at least six percent of the votes in four or more states in Lok Sabha or assembly elections and having at least four Lok Sabha members; holding at least two percent of the Lok Sabha seats with candidates from at least three states; or being recognized as a state party in at least four states.
Yadav also extended his wishes to the people on the occasion of Hindi Diwas, emphasizing the importance of promoting Indian languages. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah also extended their greetings on Hindi Diwas, highlighting the significance of Hindi and other Indian languages in national unity and development.
Doubts Revealed
Akhilesh Yadav -: Akhilesh Yadav is an Indian politician and the president of the Samajwadi Party. He was also the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh from 2012 to 2017.
Samajwadi Party -: The Samajwadi Party is a political party in India. It mainly operates in the state of Uttar Pradesh and focuses on social justice and equality.
Jammu and Kashmir -: Jammu and Kashmir is a region in northern India. It used to be a state but is now a Union Territory after the abrogation of Article 370.
National Party Status -: National Party Status is a recognition given to political parties in India that have a significant presence in multiple states. It allows them certain privileges like a common election symbol across the country.
Article 370 -: Article 370 was a part of the Indian Constitution that gave special autonomy to the region of Jammu and Kashmir. It was removed in 2019, making the region more integrated with the rest of India.
Hindi Diwas -: Hindi Diwas is celebrated on September 14 every year to honor the adoption of Hindi as one of the official languages of India. It promotes the use of Hindi in daily life.