Sajad Lone vows to fight for J&K’s statehood

Srinagar, Oct 08: After securing victory from the Handwara Assembly seat, Jammu and Kashmir People’s Conference (JKPC) President Sajad Gani Lone vowed to continue the fight for restoring Jammu and Kashmir’s statehood.
Speaking to the media after his win, Lone expressed concern over the diminished powers of the current assembly, comparing it to the pre-2019 status of the state before the abrogation of Article 370.
“The last time I was elected, I went to India’s most empowered assembly. Today, I’m going to India’s weakest assembly,” said Lone, referring to the reduced authority of the J&K Assembly following the changes brought on August 5, 2019. He pledged to take the fight for statehood to “the floor of the assembly and every possible platform.”
Lone also criticized the BJP for its policies in J&K, accusing the party of treating the region as an “experiment.” He warned of the unintended consequences these policies could bring, urging the BJP to stop its political manoeuvres in the region and let the people of J&K, particularly Kashmiris, live in peace.
Meanwhile, as vote counting neared its conclusion, the National Conference (NC)-Congress alliance seemed poised to form the next government, with NC securing 42 seats and Congress winning 6 seats.
Jairam Ramesh, speaking on behalf of Congress, confirmed the party’s confidence in leading a coalition government with NC, despite earlier efforts to prevent a clear majority.
On the other hand, Union Minister Jitendra Singh hailed the BJP’s performance, noting that this was the party’s best-ever showing in a J&K Assembly election, with 29 seats won. Despite the BJP not leading the race, Singh expressed optimism about the party’s growing influence in the region.
This election, the first since the abrogation of Article 370, has shaped the political landscape of J&K, with new alliances and renewed calls for restoring the region’s statehood.