J&K assembly polls: BJP candidate Murtaza Khan holds roadshow in Mendhar

Poonch (Jammu and Kashmir) [India], August 29 (ANI): Murtaza Khan, who is the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate from the Mendhar Assembly constituency for the upcoming Assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir (J-K) held a roadshow on Thursday.

Mendhar will go to polls in the second phase of assembly elections on September 25.

Murtaza Khan visited the constituency on Thursday following the announcement of his candidature by the BJP earlier this week.

“Today is the first time when I visited the constituency after the declaration of my candidature. The way this election campaign has started indicates that the election journey would not be difficult. Youth and elderly will be joining our campaign, and we will achieve success…” Khan said while speaking to ANI.

Khan also spoke about the pre-poll alliance of the National Conference (NC) and Congress, and said, “The alliance will not stand…NC’s manifesto mentions that they will revisit the existing reservation policy. They want to disturb the existing reservation policy.”

Meanwhile, the Election Commission of India (ECI) on Thursday issued the notification for the filing of nomination papers by the candidates for the second phase of assembly elections in J-K. As many as 26 assembly constituencies will go to polls in the second phase of elections.

As per the notification, the last date for filing the nomination will be September 5, while scrutiny will be done on September 6. The last date for the withdrawal of candidatures is September 9.

Voters will cast their ballot from 7.00 A.M. to 06.00 P.M. The counting will take place on October 4.

In the 2014 Assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir, the PDP won 28 seats, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) won 25, the Jammu and Kashmir National Conference won 15, and the Congress won 12.

The PDP and BJP formed a coalition government led by Mufti Mohammed Sayeed. However, in 2018, the BJP pulled back from the alliance after Mehbooba Mufti took over following the demise of Mufti Mohammad.

Jammu and Kashmir is expected to witness multi-cornered contests on most seats. It is the first assembly poll since the abrogation of Article 370.

In recently-concluded Lok Sabha elections, the BJP won both seats in Jammu. The National Conference also won two seats.