Union Home Minister Amit Shah today asserted that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is poised to form the government in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir. He emphasized that the party’s campaign in the upcoming three-phase Assembly elections—scheduled for September 18, September 25, and October 1—will focus on the development work carried out in the region.

In an interview with a Hindi newspaper, Shah highlighted the significant progress made in Jammu and Kashmir over the past decade. “Jammu and Kashmir is now marching on the path of peace and development. Over the last 10 years, there has been a 69 percent decline in terror incidents, an 80 percent reduction in civilian killings, and a 44 percent drop in security forces’ fatalities,” Shah said. He attributed this progress to the BJP-led government’s efforts and the abrogation of Article 370 of the Indian Constitution, which he claimed has unlocked new opportunities for development in the region.

Shah pointed out that Jammu is now home to premier institutions like the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Indian Institute of Management (IIM), and All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS). He praised the establishment of these educational and healthcare institutions as evidence of the ongoing wave of development in Jammu and Kashmir.

The Home Minister also lauded the benefits extended to various communities following the abrogation of Article 370. “Backward classes, Dalits, Paharis, Gujjars, Bakerwals, and local residents have all gained their rights, leading to an era of development and peace,” he asserted. Shah noted that youth in the region are securing jobs, and new educational opportunities have emerged. He highlighted the record voter turnout in the recent Lok Sabha elections as a sign of strengthened democracy at the grassroots level.

Shah criticized the National Conference (NC) and Congress for their alliance, questioning Congress’s stance on several issues. “Does the Congress support the NC’s call for a separate flag for Jammu and Kashmir? Do they want to restore Article 370 and 35A? Are they in favor of resuming trade with Pakistan to support terrorism? Do they back the NC manifesto’s proposal to end reservations for Dalits, Gujjars, Bakerwals, and Paharis? Does Congress prefer talks with Pakistan over addressing the needs of the youth in Jammu and Kashmir?” Shah asked.

The Home Minister urged the Congress to clarify its position on these matters. He also highlighted the influx of two crore tourists to Jammu and Kashmir in 2023 and the reopening of cinema halls after a 33-year hiatus as markers of the region’s growing prosperity.

Shah concluded by reflecting on the government’s overall security strategy. He noted that, under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership since 2014, there has been a balanced approach to addressing security challenges across India, including in the Northeast, Left-Wing Extremism zones, and Jammu and Kashmir. As a result of these efforts, Shah claimed there has been a 60 percent reduction in total incidents of violence and a 71 percent decrease in total killings.

JAMMU, : All 24 Assembly constituencies in Jammu division are fully prepared for the third and final phase of polling tomorrow. Security personnel have taken control of polling stations and other vulnerable areas, ensuring the smooth conclusion of the first Assembly election in the Union Territory (UT) of Jammu and Kashmir post the abrogation of Article 370.

Nearly 20,000 polling staff has been deployed for tomorrow’s voting across 40 Assembly seats. Accompanying them are a large number of paramilitary and police personnel tasked with maintaining security during the voting process. In addition, the Indian Army has been conducting anti-terror operations in the mountainous areas to ensure a terror-free election.

Focus Shifts to Counting

Once polling is completed, the focus will shift to the counting of votes, scheduled for October 8, covering all 90 seats in Jammu and Kashmir. Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar confirmed that votes polled by each candidate would be displayed after every round of counting, ensuring transparency. He also reassured voters not to believe any misinformation regarding the counting process.

Women Voter Turnout

CEC Rajiv Kumar also noted an impressive higher voter turnout among women compared to male electors in 17 of the 50 constituencies where polling has already taken place. Kumar mentioned that the last two phases saw an increase in voter participation, with more candidates competing in the fray compared to previous elections.

Polling Stations and Security

Officials confirmed that all polling parties, along with Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) and security personnel, reached their destinations this evening to ensure that polling begins promptly at 7 am. Security has been strengthened across all polling stations to avoid any disruption during the voting process.

The Jammu district, which has the largest number of 11 Assembly seats, will be a key focus in the final phase. Other districts such as Kathua (6 seats), Udhampur (4 seats), and Samba (3 seats) will also see polling tomorrow.

Reserved Seats and New Voter Participation

The final phase of voting will include all seven Scheduled Caste (SC) reserved seats in Jammu and Kashmir. These include Akhnoor, Marh, Bishnah, Suchetgarh, Ramgarh, Kathua Main, and Ramnagar. Notably, West Pakistani refugees, Valmiki Samaj, and the Gorkha community will also participate in the Assembly elections for the first time, thanks to the abrogation of Article 370.

Previous Voting Turnout

The previous two phases saw a robust voter turnout, with 61.38% participation in the first phase on September 18 and 57.31% in the second phase on September 26. Security arrangements have been tightened to ensure a peaceful voting process in tomorrow’s polling for the remaining constituencies.

With the completion of voting tomorrow, the entire electoral process across 43 Assembly seats in Jammu division and 47 in Kashmir division will conclude.