J-K Polls: Rahul Gandhi To Lead Congress Campaign For 2nd Phase Polling With Rallies In Poonch, Srinagar

Jammu-Kashmir Election 2024: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi will campaign in Poonch and Srinagar on September 23 ahead of the second phase of assembly elections.

Jammu-Kashmir Election 2024: Congress MP and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, will visit Jammu and Kashmir on September 23 to campaign for Congress and alliance candidates in the upcoming assembly elections. Rahul is set to address rallies in Poonch and Srinagar in a bid to bolster support for the party ahead of the second phase of polling, scheduled for September 25.

A senior Congress official stated that Rahul Gandhi will hold a rally in Surankote, Poonch, in support of Congress-NC alliance candidate Shahnawaz Choudhary. Following this, he will address a gathering in the central Shalteng constituency of Srinagar to seek support for Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC) President Tariq Hameed Karra.

This visit marks Rahul’s continued efforts to rally support in the region. He has already addressed three other rallies, including one in Sangaldan in support of former PCC President Vikar Rasool Wani and two rallies in Dooru for AICC General Secretary Ghulam Ahmed Mir.

Jammu-Kashmir Election 2024 Schedule

The assembly elections are being conducted in three phases for the 90 constituencies of Jammu and Kashmir. The first phase of voting took place on September 18, with 24 seats contested. The second phase, on September 25, will see voters from 26 constituencies across Rajouri and Poonch districts in the Jammu region, and Srinagar, Budgam, and Ganderbal districts in the Kashmir region. The final phase is scheduled for October 1, covering 40 seats. 

After almost a decade, Jammu and Kashmir is witnessing this multi-phase election. It is the first election since the abrogation of Article 370 and the bifurcation of the erstwhile state into two Union Territories—Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh—in August 2019. The Election Commission of India recently announced a change in the date for the results. Initially slated for October 4, the results will now be declared on October 8.

Meanwhile, Union Home Minister Amit Shah is leading the BJP's campaign on Saturday by addressing an election rally in Poonch where praised the Modi government for restoring peace along the borders. As part of his ongoing three-day tour, Shah is expected to address four more rallies, including ones in Surankote, Thanamandi, Rajouri, and Akhnoor.