Union Home Minister Amit Shah is gearing up for a significant two-day visit to Jammu, starting September 6, as the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) intensifies its campaign for the upcoming Jammu and Kashmir Assembly elections. Shah is expected to release the BJP manifesto during this visit and address several political rallies, which party insiders believe will bolster the morale of BJP candidates and workers ahead of the crucial elections.

Preparations for Shah?s visit are in full swing, with the BJP viewing his presence as a pivotal moment in energizing the party's base, particularly in the Jammu region, where the BJP has maintained a stronghold since 2014. Shah?s visit to Jammu will be followed by another visit to Kashmir in mid-September, further underlining the BJP's focus on the region.

The upcoming elections in Jammu and Kashmir, scheduled for September 18, 25, and October 1, are particularly noteworthy as they are the first to be held in the region since the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019. This decision, which effectively revoked the special status of the erstwhile state and bifurcated it into two Union Territories, has been a significant point of contention and a cornerstone of the BJP's policy in the region.

The elections will cover all 90 constituencies in the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly, with 87.09 lakh electors eligible to vote. The first phase will cover 24 constituencies, the second 26 constituencies including Rajouri and Reasi, and the final phase will encompass 40 constituencies. Notably, this will be the shortest Assembly election in Jammu and Kashmir in nearly three decades, contrasting with previous elections that spanned multiple phases.

In the 2014 Assembly elections, the BJP secured 25 seats, but this time, it faces a renewed challenge from a resurgent Congress, which has formed an alliance with the National Conference (NC). The BJP is leaving no stone unturned in its efforts to counter this opposition and retain its influence in the region.

The results of the elections will be announced on October 8, setting the stage for a new political chapter in Jammu and Kashmir. The BJP?s strategic focus on manifesto release, rallying support, and senior leadership visits underscores the high stakes of this electoral battle.