Jammu, Apr 17: The star-studded campaigning for the Kathua-Udhampur-DodaLokSabha constituency of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) concluded today with a flurry of rallies and speeches by prominent political figures.
A total of twelve candidates from various parties are vying for this prestigious seat, currently represented by Union Minister in the PMO, Dr.Jitendra Singh, since 2014.
The ruling BJP spared no effort in bolstering its campaign in the Kathua-Udhampur-DodaLokSabha constituency. Star campaigners including Prime Minister NarendraModi addressed an electrifying rally at Modi Stadium in Udhampur on the 12th of this month in fervent support of BJP candidate Dr.Jitendra Singh. Preceding Modi’s rally, another prominent BJP figure, Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, Yogi Adityanath, held a massive election gathering in Kathua.
Subsequently, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh lent his voice to the BJP’s cause by addressing a rally in support of the party’s candidate at Basholi.
Despite the dozen candidates who have filed their nominations for the Kathua-Udhampur-DodaLokSabha constituency, which will go to polls in the first phase of Parliamentary elections on April 19, the main contest appears to be among BJP candidate and two-time incumbent MP Dr.Jitendra Singh, Congress candidate Lal Singh, who has previously held this seat twice, and GM Saroori, the candidate of DPAP.
Comprising five districts and 18 Assembly segments, this Parliamentary constituency boasts a total of 16.23 lakh eligible voters. In the 2014 LokSabha elections, DrJitendra Singh of the BJP secured victory over the then Congress stalwart and former Chief Minister of J&K, GhulamNabi Azad, by a significant margin of over 50,000 votes. Similarly, in the 2019 LokSabha polls, Dr. Singh clinched victory against the Congress candidate, Vikramaditya Singh, by an impressive margin of 4 lakh votes. In 2019, Dr.Singh garnered 7.58 lakh votes, while Vikramaditya Singh received 3.58 lakh votes.
However, the upcoming election poses a challenge for Dr.Jitendra Singh with the entry of DPAP candidate GM Saroori. DPAP, under the leadership of GhulamNabi Azad, holds considerable influence in the Chenab belt, making the contest for this seat intriguing, especially considering Lal Singh’s influence in certain pockets of the constituency.
With just days remaining until the polls on the 19th of this month, all eyes are on the Kathua-Udhampur-DodaLokSabha constituency, as political fervour reaches its peak in this critical battleground.
