Omar Abdullah and Rashid Engineer Speak Out as Jammu and Kashmir Prepares for 2024 Elections
Omar Abdullah, Vice President of the National Conference and former Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir, announced that his party is working to prevent the BJP from gaining power in the Union Territory. He stated, “If the BJP does not target us, then will it praise us? We are competing with them. We are stopping them from occupying the seat of power in J-K. We have to take account from them for what they have done in the last 10 years.”
The 2024 Assembly elections will be the first local elections in Jammu and Kashmir since the abrogation of Article 370. The elections will be held in three phases: September 18, September 25, and October 1, with vote counting on October 8.
Baramulla MP Rashid Engineer, who was granted interim bail in a terror funding case, emphasized the importance of the upcoming elections, stating, “The election is important as Kashmir is at a crucial stage. The people of J-K will successfully fight for justice as they are united. PM Modi’s so-called vision of ‘Naya Kashmir’ will fail.”
The BJP has released a manifesto focusing on women, youth, and Kashmiri Pandits. BJP J-K chief Ravinder Raina described it as a ‘people’s manifesto.’ The manifesto includes promises such as the ‘Maa Samman Yojana,’ which will provide Rs 18,000 per year to the senior most woman in every household in Jammu and Kashmir, and support for Women SHGs on bank loan interest issues.
Jammu and Kashmir has 90 Assembly constituencies, with 7 seats reserved for SCs and 9 for STs. According to the Election Commission of India, there are 88.06 lakh eligible electors in the region. In the previous Assembly elections, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) won 28 seats, the BJP secured 25, the National Conference (NC) won 15, and the Congress won 12.
Doubts Revealed
Omar Abdullah -: Omar Abdullah is a politician from Jammu and Kashmir. He is the Vice President of the National Conference, a political party in the region.
Rashid Engineer -: Rashid Engineer is a Member of Parliament (MP) from Baramulla, a district in Jammu and Kashmir. He is known for his political views and speeches.
National Conference -: The National Conference is a political party in Jammu and Kashmir. It is one of the oldest and major parties in the region.
BJP -: BJP stands for Bharatiya Janata Party. It is one of the two major political parties in India, known for its nationalistic policies.
Prime Minister Modi -: Prime Minister Modi refers to Narendra Modi, the current Prime Minister of India. He is a member of the BJP.
Naya Kashmir -: Naya Kashmir means ‘New Kashmir’. It is a vision or plan proposed by Prime Minister Modi for the development and betterment of Jammu and Kashmir.
Kashmiri Pandits -: Kashmiri Pandits are a group of people from the Kashmir Valley. They are known for their unique culture and traditions.
Manifesto -: A manifesto is a public declaration of policies and aims, usually by a political party before an election. It tells people what the party plans to do if they win.
Phases -: Phases in elections mean that the voting process is divided into different parts or stages. This helps in managing the elections better.
