bjp-unveils-50-paar-slogan-for-jk-elections

After the successful conclusion of the Lok Sabha elections on the three seats across the Kashmir region, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Kashmir unveiled a new slogan for the forthcoming Assembly elections: "50 paar."

There is a sense of urgency in the BJP state unit in J&K for the upcoming assembly elections, which are scheduled to be held before the September deadline according to the Supreme Court’s ruling.

"We have to start working for the Assembly elections because the Prime Minister and the Union Home Minister have already announced that the elections will be held before September 31, according to Supreme Court guidelines," said BJP general secretary Ashok Koul while addressing media in Anantnag district in South Kashmir.

According to the final delimitation order released on May 5, 2022, assembly seats in J&K were increased to 90. These include 43 in the Jammu region and 47 in Kashmir.

Nine Assembly seats have been designated for Scheduled Tribes: six in Jammu and three in the Valley.

On December 11, 2023,  the Supreme Court supported the Centre's decision to repeal Article 370 and ordered the Union government to organise elections in Jammu and Kashmir by September 30, 2024, and restore statehood as soon as possible.

The last Assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir were conducted in 2014 when the BJP and PDP formed a coalition government.

The coalition government crumbled when the BJP withdrew its support to the PDP in 2018.

Governor Satya Pal Malik dismissed the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly in November 2018, after PDP leader Mehbooba Mufti claimed the right to form the government.

During his March visit to Jammu and Kashmir, political parties across ideological lines urged Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar to hold Assembly elections as soon as possible.

Political parties, stakeholders, and members of civil society met with the ECI delegation and requested early assembly elections since Jammu and Kashmir hasn’t had an elected government since 2018.