BJP Confident of Forming Next Government in Jammu & Kashmir

BJP President Ravinder Raina expressed confidence in his party forming the next government in Jammu & Kashmir, excluding PDP's Mehbooba Mufti. Union Home Minister Amit Shah criticized NC's Omar Abdullah and Congress's Rahul Gandhi on statehood issues, while CM Yogi Adityanath questioned Rahul Gandhi’s stance on Article 370.

Jammu and Kashmir BJP President Ravinder Raina expressed confidence on Thursday that his party will form the next government in the union territory, excluding PDP's Mehbooba Mufti. "There is a huge wave of the BJP in Jammu and Kashmir. We are forming government with immense support from the people. The next Chief Minister of J&K will be from the BJP," Raina asserted.

He thanked all demographics in Jammu and Kashmir for their support and explicitly stated that Mehbooba Mufti will not be part of any BJP government. Meanwhile, Union Home Minister Amit Shah took aim at National Conference leader Omar Abdullah and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi over their remarks on statehood during the election campaign. Shah said that only the Centre has the authority to address statehood status.

While addressing an election rally in Kathua, Shah accused Omar Abdullah of being "scared" for contesting from two separate seats. "Omar Abdullah is dreaming of becoming the CM again. Two phases of voting have concluded, and the NC and Congress have been wiped out. Abdullah had declared he would not fight elections until statehood was restored, yet he is contesting from two seats," Shah stated. He reiterated that statehood restoration would occur only after elections as decided by the BJP, not the opposition.

In Ramgarh, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath criticized Rahul Gandhi, questioning whether he supports the National Conference's demand to reinstate Article 370 and Article 35A. "Does Rahul Gandhi support the NC's demand for a separate flag and the reinstatement of Article 370 and 35A, pushing Jammu and Kashmir back into an era of unrest and terrorism?" Yogi asked. The assembly elections, the first since the abrogation of Article 370 nearly a decade ago, are ongoing with voting phases on September 18 and 25, and the final phase on October 1. The votes will be counted on October 8.

(With inputs from agencies.)