J-K assembly elections to further strengthen roots of democracy: Amit Shah

New Delhi [India], August 16 : Union Home Minister Amit Shah welcomed the announcement of assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir and said that the J-K polls will strengthen the roots of democracy, opening the door to a new period of development for the region.
"I welcome the announcement of the assembly election in Jammu and Kashmir made by the Election Commission of India today. In the last 10 years, the Modi government, through a series of relentless initiatives, has created a new era of peace, development and strengthening democracy in J-K. The assembly election will further strengthen the roots of democracy, opening the door to a new period of development for the region," Amit Shah posted on X.
Amit Shah also appealed to the people of Jammu and Kashmir to actively participate in the elections and vote in large numbers to form a government.
"I appeal to the people of J-K to actively participate in the election and vote in large numbers to form a government that will sustain peace and development and ensure a brighter future for the youth," he added.
Former Deputy CM of Jammu and Kashmir and BJP leader Nirmal Singh said that the development of Jammu and Kashmir is possible once there is be double-engine government of BJP here.
"We welcome this step by Election Commission...People are eagerly waiting for this...The development of Jammu and Kashmir is possible once there is be double-engine government of BJP here...The youth of J&K have suffered the most, so we need to form the government here to develop them. I am sure that we will form the government here with a majority," Nirmal Singh said.
BJP leader Altaf Thakur said, "J&K BJP welcomes the announcement of elections. As everyone knows the BJP had come into election mode long before with rallies and door-to-door campaigns, this time BJP will form govt by winning over 50 seats."
Meanwhile, Jammu and Kashmir Bharatiya Janata Party President Ravinder Raina also welcomed the announcement of the Assembly Elections.
Raina said we have been eagerly waiting for this announcement since the Lok Sabha Elections and said that the BJP is fully prepared for the Assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir.
"I am quite sure that the people of Jammu and Kashmir will support the BJP wholeheartedly in the Assembly Elections and we will form our own government in J-K," he added.
Jammu and Kashmir BJP co-incharge Ashish Sood said that the party will form the government in Jammu and Kashmir.
"BJP does politics not for gaining power but for the development of the people. We are with PM Modi's resolve for a developed India... We are going to form the government in Jammu and Kashmir this time," Sood said.
On the announcement of dates for the Assembly polls in J-K and Haryana, Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma said that this election will prove to be a boon for democracy.
"I welcome the announcement of elections in Jammu and Kashmir...I believe this election will prove to be a boon for democracy and a lot of development will open up for Jammu and Kashmir," CM Sarma said.
The Assembly elections in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir will be held in three phases from September 18, the Chief Election Commissioner, Rajiv Kumar announced.
Addressing a press conference in the national capital, Rajiv Kumar said that the assembly election in Jammu and Kashmir will be held in three phases.
The elections of first phase will be held on September 18, second phase will be held on September 25 and third phase will be held on October 1. The counting of the votes will be held on October 4.
"Assembly polls in Jammu and Kashmir will be held in three phases, with voting on September 18th, September 25th, and October 1st. Counting of votes on October 4," Kumar said.
The dates to file the nominations for the first phase will be on August 27, nominations for the second phase will be on September 5, and September 12 is the last day to file nominations for the third phase.
There are a total of 90 assembly constituencies, of which 74 are General, nine are ST and seven are SC.
In Jammu and Kashmir, there are 87.09 lakh total electors. Of which 44.46 lakh are male, 42.62 female, 169 are Transgender, 82,590 PwDs, 73943 very senior citizens, 2660 centenarians, 76092 service electors, and 3.71 lakh are first-time voters.
Jammu and Kashmir will witness elections after a gap of ten years as the last assembly election was held in 2014. The PDP-BJP coalition government fell in June 2018 when the latter withdrew support to the then-Chief Minister, Mehbooba Mufti.