Mubashir Aalam Wani
Srinagar, Nov 14: Political momentum is building in Jammu and Kashmir with parties gearing up for the much-anticipated Panchayat elections.
Following the recent Lok Sabha and Assembly elections, BJP, National Conference (NC), and Congress are all mobilizing efforts to maximize their influence at the grassroots level.
The BJP, aiming to expand its voter base, claims to have added approximately 1.5 lakh new members in a recent drive.
Aseem Gupta, BJP’s public relations campaign in-charge, stated that the party is enrolling around 10,000 new members daily.
To further this outreach, the BJP is set to launch the Maha Atal Sampark Abhiyan, a door-to-door campaign scheduled for November 17 and 24, and December 1.
Party MPs, MLAs, and top cadres will meet with voters across the region. Notably, BJP achieved the highest vote share in the recent assembly elections, and leaders hope to consolidate their base further in the upcoming local polls.
Within the ruling NC, Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Kumar Chaudhary and cabinet member Satish Sharma are focusing their outreach in the Jammu division.
Chaudhary has made multiple visits to Sher-e-Kashmir Bhawan, the party headquarters in Jammu, where he reassured residents and party workers of his commitment to defending Jammu’s interests.
He emphasized that government offices will be accessible to address the public’s concerns and vowed continued advocacy for local land and employment rights.
Congress, too, is poised to intensify its activity. Recently appointed state president Tariq Hameed Karra held a strategy meeting with senior party members at the Jammu headquarters to discuss the organizational shakeup and the Panchayat election campaign.
Despite securing only six seats in the latest assembly elections, Congress is aiming to leverage this upcoming election to revitalize its presence in the region.
The Panchayat voter registration process for 2025 is also underway, with a finalized voter list expected by January 6, 2025.
Special registration camps are scheduled at polling stations across the region on November 16, 17, 23, 24, and December 1, where officials will assist voters with forms and provide information. OBC reservation details are also being reviewed in the lead-up to these elections.
