JKPC Chairman Sajjad Gani Lone Says Party Will Contest Alone in Jammu and Kashmir Elections
Handwara (Jammu and Kashmir) [India], October 1: Sajjad Gani Lone, Chairman of the Jammu and Kashmir People’s Conference (JKPC), announced that his party will contest the upcoming elections independently. He mentioned that they faced issues in previous alliances and prefer to go alone this time.
Lone stated, “We do not go into the number game. But I think it will be good…We are equidistant from all parties, we faced issues in alliances last time as well. So, we are on our own. We want to contest alone.”
He also expressed support for the restoration of Article 370 and 35A, aligning with the local public’s voice. Lone cast his vote at the Government Girls Higher Secondary School in Handwara during the third and final phase of the assembly polls.
The third phase of the elections recorded a 65.08% voter turnout by 5 pm, according to the Election Commission of India. Specific turnout percentages included Bandipora at 63.33%, Baramulla at 55.73%, Jammu at 66.79%, Kathua at 70.53%, Kupwara at 62.76%, Samba at 72.41%, and Udhampur at 72.91%.
Voting took place in 24 constituencies in the Jammu division and 16 constituencies in Kashmir, with strong security measures to ensure smooth and peaceful polls. The first phase saw a 61.13% turnout, while the second phase had a 57.31% turnout.
These elections are the first in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir since the abrogation of Article 370. High-profile leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi, and former J-K chief ministers Farooq Abdullah, Omar Abdullah, and Mehbooba Mufti, campaigned extensively.
The National Conference (NC) and the Congress have formed an alliance for these elections, while the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) are among the other major contenders. The counting of votes will take place on October 8.
Doubts Revealed
JKPC -: JKPC stands for Jammu and Kashmir People’s Conference, which is a political party in the region of Jammu and Kashmir.
Sajjad Gani Lone -: Sajjad Gani Lone is a politician and the chairman of the Jammu and Kashmir People’s Conference (JKPC).
Article 370 -: Article 370 was a part of the Indian Constitution that gave special status to the region of Jammu and Kashmir, allowing it to have its own constitution and autonomy over internal matters.
Article 35A -: Article 35A was a provision in the Indian Constitution that allowed the Jammu and Kashmir state legislature to define permanent residents of the state and provide them with special rights and privileges.
PM Modi -: PM Modi refers to Narendra Modi, who is the Prime Minister of India.
Rahul Gandhi -: Rahul Gandhi is a prominent Indian politician and a member of the Indian National Congress party.
abrogation -: Abrogation means the act of formally ending or canceling something. In this context, it refers to the Indian government’s decision to revoke Article 370, ending the special status of Jammu and Kashmir.
