Lok Sabha polls 2024: Campaigning for Udhampur ends as BJP eyes hat-trick

Srinagar: As campaigning for Udhampur Lok Sabha seat, which goes to polls in the first phase, ended Wednesday evening, the BJP is eyeing a hat-trick while Congress is mounting a challenge this time.

The Udhampur-Doda LS seat will go for polls along with 101 constituencies spread across 21 states and Union Territories (UTs) on April 19 in the first phase of elections.

The constituency is set to witness a bilateral contest with battle lines drawn between Rajput candidates of the BJP and the Congress.

While the BJP is banking on the ‘Modi factor’, abrogation of Article 370 and the construction of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya, along with various welfare schemes and infrastructure projects, to bolster its narrative of development, Congress is cornering the saffron party on the issues of unemployment and safeguarding secularism besides restoration of statehood.

Choudhary Lal Singh of Congress is expected to give a tough fight to BJP's candidate and Union Minister Jitendra Singh this time. Congress party’s Singh focused on more small rallies and door-to-door campaigning while the BJP held high-profile rallies for its Singh, which included Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s mega rally on April 12.

With the grand old party being backed by the National Conference (NC) and People’s Democratic Party (PDP), it is a tough battle for the BJP this time, considering the popularity of Congress candidate Lal Singh among voters in the constituency.

However, the entry of Ghulam Nabi Azad led Democratic Progressive Azad Party (DPAP) candidate G M Saroori, can give some benefit to the BJP with the division in Muslim votes.

In his speeches during rallies Azad has been criticising the NC, Congress and PDP, but has remained silent on the BJP.