“Environment in our favour”: NC MP Mian Altaf exudes confidence ahead of assembly elections

RAJOURI: As Jammu and Kashmir gears up for the assembly elections, National Conference MP Mian Altaf Ahmed said that the environment in the state amidst the assembly election preparations is in the favour of the National Conference (NC).

He further said that a lot of people gathered on the streets in support of NC.

Speaking to reporters, Jammu and Kashmir National Conference MP Mian Altaf Ahmed said, “The environment is in our favour. When I entered the area, all the way from Khawas to here, there were people on the streets (in our support). I am sure that we have already won this seat. We will campaign on all legislative constituencies of Rajouri and we will say whatever is needed. People are supporting us.”

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday said that the upcoming Assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir will be a fight between “three dynasties” and the youth of the union territory.

He named Congress, National Conference (NC), and People’s Democratic Party (PDP) as the three dynasties whose corrupt practices “hollowed out” and “destroyed” Jammu and Kashmir.

“This year, the elections to Jammu Kashmir assembly are going to be held between the dynasties and the youth of Jammu and Kashmir,” PM Modi said in his first rally in the election-bound erstwhile State.

“These three families are responsible for the dire state that J&K was in for decades. They indulged in corruption and made you struggle for your basic needs. These families laid the foundation for terrorism and extremism in the valley. They provided a haven for the propagation of terrorism for personal gains,” the Prime Minister said.

“On one side, there are these three dynasties and on the other, my sons and daughters of Jammu and Kashmir. These three dynasties are – the Congress, the National Conference and the PDP. What these three dynasties have together done with you all is nothing less than a sin. These three families prepared the necessary ground for separatism and terrorism here. Who benefitted from it? The enemies of the nation. They were harbouring terrorism so that their shops of millions continue to prosper. They are responsible for ruining Jammu and Kashmir for decades,” PM Modi said.

The elections in Jammu and Kashmir are scheduled for September 18, September 25, and October 1, with counting set for October 8.

Jammu and Kashmir will witness elections after a gap of ten years, as the last assembly election was held in 2014. Jammu and Kashmir has 90 Assembly constituencies, including 7 reserved for SCs and 9 reserved for STs.

According to the Election Commission of India, Jammu and Kashmir has 88.06 lakh eligible voters.

In the previous Assembly elections, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) won 28 seats, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) secured 25, the Jammu and Kashmir National Conference (NC) won 15, and the Congress won 12.

The PDP-BJP coalition government fell in June 2018 when the latter withdrew support to the then-Chief Minister, Mehbooba Mufti.

These upcoming elections will be the first in Kashmir since the abrogation of Article 370. (ANI)