Srinagar, Sep 2: As the first phase of voting in the Jammu and Kashmir assembly elections approaches on September 18, both the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Congress have yet to release their election manifestos, leaving just 16 days before voters head to the polls.
Despite soliciting public opinion, neither party has presented their written promises to the electorate, unlike regional parties such as the National Conference (NC), the People's Democratic Party (PDP), and the Jammu and Kashmir Apni Party, all of which have already unveiled their manifestos in public.
The elections, set to take place in three phases on September 18, 25, and October 1, have seen regional parties take the lead in terms of election preparedness. However, both the BJP and Congress are still lagging behind in releasing their manifestos. The Congress, which has formed a pre-poll alliance with the NC, is also facing delays in selecting candidates and finalizing the issues to be included in its manifesto.
Sources within the Congress divulge that internal differences have emerged within the party regarding the promises they can realistically fulfill, such as policies to combat unemployment and the regularization of temporary workers. The issue of smart meters and rising electricity bills has also become a focal point.
To draft its manifesto, the Congress earlier launched a campaign to gather suggestions from the public. Although input was collected, it has yet to progress beyond the party office. The Congress had established four sub-committees to gather feedback from various segments of society, including youth, women, business, and industry representatives. “These committees held discussions at the district level across Jammu and Kashmir, compiling a comprehensive list of public concerns. However, these suggestions have not yet been translated into a formal manifesto,” a senior Congress leader said.
Similarly, the BJP also conducted a campaign to gather public suggestions for its manifesto, holding several meetings to discuss the issues that should be included. Despite this, the party has not yet finalized or released its manifesto. Sources indicate that the BJP is still engaged in internal discussions, aiming to ensure that the issues they prioritize align closely with public interest.
As election dates are coming closer, the delay in releasing manifestos by the BJP and Congress is raising questions about preparedness and commitment of both the parties to addressing the concerns of the people of Jammu and Kashmir.
