PM Modi to Kick Off J&K Election Campaign From Doda Today, First PM Visit in District in 42 Years

Jammu: In view of Jammu and Kashmir assembly elections, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is all set to kick off poll campaign on Saturday in support of his party candidates by addressing a mega rally in Doda district, amid tight security arrangements. This will be the first visit by a prime minister to Doda district in the last 42 years.

Security has been beefed across the twin districts of Doda and Kishtwar, particularly around the venue, to facilitate smooth conduct of the election rally scheduled to be held at the stadium in Doda town.

"Prime Minister Modi will hold his first election meeting in Doda tomorrow. This will be a significant event as it marks the first visit of any Prime Minister to Doda in 42 years. The last prime ministerial visit to Doda was in 1982," news agency PTI quoted Union Coal and Mines Minister and BJP election in-charge for Jammu & Kashmir, G Kishan Reddy as saying on Friday in Samba.

The rally is all set to provide momentum to BJP cadres and candidates in the region where voting for eight Assembly seats in the three districts of the Chenab Valley — Doda, Kishtwar, and Ramban — is slated for September 18.

BJP to Contest 43 Seats

BJP is fighting for all 43 assembly seats in the Jammu division. In the last J&K Assembly, BJP had 25 MLAs. Voting in the J&K elections has been planned in three phases on September 18, September 25, and October 1 while the counting of votes will take place on October 8. This will mark the first Assembly election in J&K in last 10 years, and the first since the abrogation of Articles 370 and 35A.

The Jammu region has long been a BJP stronghold, with the party winning all 25 of its seats from this region in the 2014 Assembly polls in the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir.

Home Minister Amit Shah addressed a poll rally in Jammu on last Saturday, while Defence Minister Rajnath Singh held another rally in Ramban district on Sunday.

(With PTI inputs)