Modi to kick start BJP’s election campaign in J&K

Just two months ahead of Lok Sabha and crucial Assembly polls, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be on a day-long visit to Jammu and Kashmir on Sunday to lay foundation of several developmental projects.

This would be Modi’s first visit to the state after the collapse of the BJP-PDP coalition government in June last year. Official sources said that Modi would begin his visit from Leh in Ladakh, where he would go to the Central Institute of Buddhist Studies auditorium and lay foundation of various developmental projects, including the recently-sanctioned Ladakh University.

Later he would fly to Vijaypur area in Jammu, where he would lay foundation for all-India institute of medical sciences (AIIMS), Shahpur-Kandi Dam project, Jammu-Akhnoor-Rajouri-Poonch highway, Sunderbani college and IIMC in Jammu, they said and added the PM will also address a public rally in Vijaypur before heading to Srinagar.

In Srinagar, Modi is scheduled to visit Army’s 15-Corps headquarters at Badamibagh cantonment and interact with elected sarpanches and panches of Kashmir. He will also lay the foundation of AIIMS and IIM in Kashmir, the source said. Modi will return to New Delhi in the evening.

On 19 May 2018 Modi had carried a similar whirlwind one-day tour of all the three regions of the state when he laid foundation of Zojila tunnel project, hydro-electricity projects and some development projects of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board.

A senior police officer said a multi-layer security cover and hi-tech surveillance systems have been put in place to ensure incident-free arrival and departure of the PM. Special checking points have been set up at various places in Srinagar and Jammu cities including entry and exit points to foil any attempt by militants to strike ahead or during the Prime Minister's visit, he said. 
After becoming Prime Minister in 2014, Modi has been frequently visiting the state. However, since the BJP-PDP alliance in the state ended on June 19 last year, this will be the PM’s first visit. The BJP, which won three out of six LS seats in the state in 2014, hopes that some sops likely to be announced by Modi would help party to retain its base in Jammu and Ladakh regions. 

Modi will kick start the party's campaign for upcoming parliamentary and assembly polls in the state during his day-long visit.