Prime Minister Narendra Modi would start campaigning for Jammu and Kashmir Assembly polls next week with special focus on Article 370 abrogation and development in the region post Article 370 repeal.
Sources said PM Modi is likely to visit J&K after September 8.
"He will address at least one public meeting planned in Doda in Jammu region, which has lately seen a series of militant attacks," they said.
J&K’s Assembly election, which is first since Article 370 abrogation, is being held in three phases – September 18, 25 and October 1. The counting of votes will be held on October 8.
BJP sources said they are hopeful that PM’s poll campaign would help the party to perform better than 2014 polls, when it won 25 seats and all of them in Jammu region.
After the delimitation exercise, J&K’s Assembly strength has risen to 90 seats with 47 in Kashmir and 43 in Jammu region. Nine seats have been reserved for STs and seven seats for SCs.
The Jammu region has long been a BJP stronghold and it remains to be seen whether the region will vote for BJP post Article 370 abrogation.
BJP MP and former Union minister Anurag Thakur, PM Modi’s popularity in J&K is big plus for the party. “After PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee, if the people have reposed their faith in a government in Delhi, it is because of PM Modi, who has visited the state often and delivered on his promises,” he said.
Sources in BJP said the main focus of PM Modi’s poll rallies in J&K would be abrogation of Article 370.
“He will inform the people about the development and public welfare schemes and projects launched in J&K post Article 370 abrogation,” they said.
Besides PM Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, and BJP National President JP Nadda are also slated to address poll rallies across J&K, signalling the party’s serious push for electoral success.