Aiming to sway voters ahead of the Assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi combined political and emotional appeals while launching his party’s campaign on Wednesday. With elections set to begin in less than two weeks, Gandhi focused on the restoration of statehood and highlighted the deep-rooted ties his family has with the region, stretching back to his great-grandfather, India’s first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru.
As Jammu and Kashmir prepares for its first election in nearly a decade—and its first since becoming a Union Territory after the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019—Gandhi emphasized the need to restore statehood. He also criticized J&K Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, labeling him a ‘raja’ (king), and accused the BJP-led central government of mismanaging the region.
The BJP, gearing up to commence its campaign on Friday with rallies led by Home Minister Amit Shah, responded by accusing the Congress-National Conference alliance of receiving support from militants.
During a rally in Dooru for Congress candidate Ghulam Ahmad Mir, Gandhi, alongside National Conference chief Farooq Abdullah, pointed to several central decisions that had been reversed as evidence of the opposition I.N.D.I.A alliance’s growing influence. He assured that a vote for the I.N.D.I.A alliance would lead to the restoration of statehood for J&K.
“In 1947, we removed the kings and established a democratic government. We gave the country a Constitution. Yet, today a ‘raja’ is ruling Jammu and Kashmir. His title is LG, but he acts as a king. Your resources are being misappropriated and your rights stripped away. Restoring statehood to J&K is crucial because it wasn’t just your state that was taken; your wealth and rights have been too,” Gandhi said. At another rally in Anantnag, Gandhi spoke of the personal connections he and his family have with the region.
