Udhampur (J-K), April 12 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi is gearing up to embark on the campaign trail in Udhampur on Friday, rallying support for Union Minister and BJP candidate Jitendra Singh. The rally, anticipated to draw a massive crowd, marks Modi’s third visit to Jammu and Kashmir in just over a month and a half.
Singh, vying for a third consecutive term from the Udhampur Lok Sabha seat, is facing the polls on April 19, during the first phase of voting. The event is expected to attract over two lakh attendees, according to BJP leaders.
As preparations intensify, stringent security measures have been implemented, including a multi-tiered security perimeter, additional checkpoints, and heightened frisking along key routes. District Magistrate Saloni Rai has issued an order prohibiting the use of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) and drones, citing emerging security threats.
Addressing the security concerns, Senior Superintendent of Police Shamsheer Hussain issued an advisory urging attendees to arrive punctually for seamless entry before the commencement of the program.
The revocation of Article 370 has taken center stage in the campaign rhetoric, particularly in the Udhampur Lok Sabha constituency. The contest appears to be a triangular one, with Congress fielding Choudhary Lal Singh and the Democratic Progressive Azad Party (DPAP) nominating three-time MLA G M Saroori.
Jitendra Singh’s victory in 2019 by a staggering margin of 3,53,272 votes over Congress candidate Vikramaditya Singh, along with his previous win against former Union minister Ghulam Nabi Azad in 2014, underscores the significant battleground Udhampur has become in this electoral cycle.
