Rahul Gandhi to kick start Congress campaign in J-K with major rallies in Ramban, Anantnag

Congress MP Rahul Gandhi is set to launch his party’s campaign for the upcoming Jammu and Kashmir assembly elections on Wednesday, September 4. He will lead two significant public rallies in the Ramban and Anantnag districts, marking the start of Congress' electoral push for the first phase of the elections scheduled for September 18.

Campaign Trail Begins in Ramban

Rahul Gandhi's first stop will be in Ramban, where he will campaign for Vikar Rasool Wani, the former chief of the Jammu and Kashmir unit of Congress. Wani is contesting from the Banihal assembly constituency. According to the Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC) chief, Tariq Hamid Karra, Gandhi's visit is expected to galvanize support for the Congress candidates in the region.

Anantnag Rally to Boost Support for Ghulam Ahmed Mir

Following the Ramban rally, Rahul Gandhi will fly to the Dooru area in Anantnag district to address another rally. This event is in support of Ghulam Ahmed Mir, Congress general secretary and former minister, who is contesting from the Dooru assembly segment. 

Taking it to his X handle, Mir shared the visuals from the location of the campaigning.

New Impetus to Congress Campaign

The JKPCC chief Karra who will contest from Central Shalteng expressed confidence that Rahul Gandhi's campaign would inject fresh momentum into the party's efforts in the region. "His presence will provide a new impetus to our outreach during the elections and significantly enhance our poll prospects," Karra stated.

Meanwhile, the experts believes that the Congress is banking on Rahul Gandhi to help reclaim the party’s lost ground in Jammu, a region that has increasingly leaned towards the BJP in recent elections. The BJP secured both seats in Jammu in the most recent Lok Sabha elections, making this assembly election a critical battleground for the Congress.

Reportedly, Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra has confirmed her participation in the campaign across Jammu and Kashmir, which will unfold in three phases.

Alliance with National Conference

The Congress has formed a pre-poll alliance with the National Conference (NC) for this assembly election, the first since the abrogation of Article 370. Under the seat-sharing agreement, the NC will contest 51 seats, while Congress will field candidates in 32. Additionally, the alliance has allocated one seat each to CPI (M) and Panthers Party.

Meanwhile, it is important to note that the 90-member Jammu and Kashmir assembly election will be conducted in three phases on September 18, September 25, and October 1. The results are slated for announcement on October 4.