BJP's Gupta Criticizes J&K Regional Parties Over Article 370 Amid Upcoming Elections

Senior BJP leader Kavinder Gupta criticized regional parties in Jammu and Kashmir for misleading people on Article 370 and expressed optimism about BJP's performance in the upcoming elections. The assembly polls in J&K are set for September 18, 25, and October 1, with vote counting on October 4.

Senior BJP leader Kavinder Gupta on Sunday criticized regional parties in Jammu and Kashmir for allegedly misleading people in the name of Article 370. This comes in response to former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah's remarks about passing a resolution against the center's decision if his party forms the government.

Gupta told ANI, 'Day-dreaming is not a bad thing... They have been straying people since the abrogation of Article 370. But nothing happened. People have rejected their kind of shopkeeping regarding Article 370 in Kashmir. That is why both the former Chief Ministers were defeated in the recent Lok Sabha elections.' He referred to Omar Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti, who lost their respective seats.

Gupta expressed confidence that the BJP will emerge as the largest party in the assembly elections scheduled for the third week of September in Jammu and Kashmir. '...The election process has started... We are in election mode, we hope that the elections conclude properly and the BJP emerges as the biggest party,' Gupta added.

The polling will take place in three phases on September 18, 25, and October 1, with vote counting on October 4, according to the Election Commission of India. The election body has instructed agencies to ensure impartial and transparent polling. The region will see elections after a 10-year gap, with the last assembly elections held in 2014.

In total, 90 assembly constituencies will be contested: 74 general, nine ST, and seven SC. The electorate includes 87.09 lakh voters, with a notable number of first-time voters and special category voters. The PDP-BJP coalition government fell in June 2018 when the BJP withdrew support.

Last December, the Supreme Court directed the Centre to conclude the election process by September 30, 2024. (ANI)

(With inputs from agencies.)