Hope people would give BJP a chance: RS MP Khatana

Jammu, Aug 18: BJP leader Gulam Ali Khatana, a nominated member of the Rajya Sabha from Jammu and Kashmir, has expressed hope that the people would give the party a chance in the assembly polls in the Union Territory next month.
As per the Election Commission of India, the polling in the UT will be held in three phases on September 18, 25, and October 1, while the counting of the votes will take place on October 4.
“The BJP has a parliamentary board. An election committee has been formed in Jammu and Kashmir. I am one of its members. The important thing is that the BJP is contesting elections here,” the BJP leader told ANI.
He said that the BJP “believes in democracy.”
“The commitments made by the Prime Minister (Narendra Modi) and Home Minister (Amit Shah) and the Supreme Court’s (deadline to hold elections by September), are being held,” he remarked.
He expressed hope that the people would give the party a chance to form the government in the Union Territory.
“Hopefully, people will give us a chance,” he said.
These are the first elections to be held in Kashmir after the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Kashmir in March and announced development packages worth crores to boost agriculture and tourism.
The election body has directed the enforcement agencies to be impartial and transparent for smooth and fair polling, ensuring a level playing field.
There are a total of 90 assembly constituencies, of which 74 are general, nine are ST, and seven are SC. There are 87.09 lakh total electors, including 44.46 lakh are male, 42.62 lakh are female, 169 are transgender, 82,590 PwDs, 73943 are very senior citizens, 2660 are centenarians, 76092 are service electors, and 3.71 lakh are first-time voters.
Jammu and Kashmir will witness elections after a gap of ten years, as the last assembly election was held in 2014. The PDP-BJP coalition government fell in June 2018 when the latter withdrew support to the then-Chief Minister, Mehbooba Mufti.
In December of last year, the Supreme Court directed the Centre to conclude the election process by September 30, 2024. (ANI)