With only three days left before the final phase of elections, the BJP has launched an aggressive campaign to corner the Congress in the Jammu province, where polling will take place for 24 Assembly seats.
As the last phase is scheduled for October 1, the BJP is going all out to mobilise support and finish the election on a strong note. In this phase, 40 seats are up for grabs—16 in Kashmir and 24 in Jammu, across districts of Samba, Kathua, Udhampur, and Jammu, known as the Dogra heartland. These Hindu-majority districts are critical for the BJP's goal of emerging as the single largest party. In the previous elections, the BJP won 19 seats in these districts and six more in other parts of Jammu, including the Muslim-majority Chenab region, thanks to a divided Muslim vote.
Recognising the importance of preventing Congress from gaining ground, the BJP has ramped up its campaign in the Dogra heartland. Union Minister Amit Shah led a series of rallies on September 26, spanning constituencies from Bani to Marh in Udhampur district. Meanwhile, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, one of BJP's star campaigners, addressed public meetings in Jammu and Samba districts.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has already visited Jammu and Kashmir twice for the campaign, and he is scheduled to arrive again on Saturday for a major rally at Maulana Azad Stadium in Jammu. This rally is seen as a critical moment for the BJP as it aims to secure 35 out of 43 seats in Jammu. Preparations for the event are in full swing, with local BJP leaders and workers actively shoring support.
Throughout their campaign, the BJP has focused on attacking the NC-Congress alliance and the People's Democratic Party (PDP), blaming them for decades of misrule and terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir. In his speeches, Amit Shah targeted the Congress for backing the National Conference’s separatist agenda, particularly its support for the restoration of Article 370.
Political observers believe that if Congress manages to secure a significant number of seats in this phase, it could weaken BJP’s chances of emerging stronger in the final tally. Meanwhile, National Conference leader Omar Abdullah has expressed frustration with the Congress's efforts in Jammu and has urged Congress leader Rahul Gandhi to intensify the party's campaign in the region.
“I hope after Rahul wraps up campaigning in one or two seats in Kashmir, he turns his attention to Jammu. Ultimately, Congress’s actions in Kashmir aren’t what matters most; it’s what happens in Jammu that counts. Ultimately, what the Congress does in Kashmir is not that important, but what the Congress does in Jammu is important,” he said in reaction to Gandhi's address to a rally in Sopore on September 25.