ASSEMBLY POLL 2024: Rahul Gandhi to blow poll bugle against BJP

Rahul Gandhi, Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha and senior Congress leader, is set to blow poll bugle in Jammu and Kashmir against the BJP. On Wednesday, he will address two rallies in the constituencies, which will go to the polls in the first phase on September 18.

The rallies will be held at Ramban of the Jammu division and Anantnag of the Kashmir region. A large number of party workers and leaders are expected to take part in the rallies, which will be among the first by any major national leader ahead of the J&K elections.

NC to contest 51 seats, Cong 32

As part of the alliance, the NC will contest on 51 seats, while the Congress will fight on 32 seats. The two parties will have friendly contests on five seats, while one seat each has been spared for the CPIM and the J&K Panthers Party (JKNPP).

Rahul is expected to pull the BJP on rising terrorism in the Jammu division and depleting opportunities in the UT after the abrogation of Article 370.

Three districts of the Jammu region — Ramban, Doda and Kishtwar — will go to the polls on September 18. The Congress and the NC will take on each other in a ‘friendly fight’ at the Banihal seat in Ramban and have fielded their respective candidates despite an alliance.

Vikar Rasool Wani, former president of the J&K Congress, will face Sajad Shaheen of the NC in Banihal. Mohammad Saleem Bhat of the BJP is also contesting from the constituency. The second seat of the district - Ramban constituency - will witness a contest between Rakesh Singh Thakur of the BJP and Arjun Singh Raju of the NC.

Among other leaders, the Congress is all set to send 40 star campaigners, including Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge and Sonia Gandhi, to J&K for the elections.

“Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha and former AICC president Rahul Gandhi will address election rallies at Sangaldan in Ramban and Dooru in Anantnag tomorrow,” said Kapil Singh, spokesperson for the party.

After his rally in Ramban, Rahul will fly to Dooru where he will address another rally in support of Congress General Secretary and former minister Ghulam Ahmed Mir, who is contesting the Dooru Assembly seat.

As part of the alliance, the NC will contest on 51 seats, while the Congress will fight on 32 seats. The two parties will have friendly contests on five seats, while one seat each has been spared for the CPI(M) and the J&K Panthers Party.