Union Minister Jitendra Singh took a significant step in his political journey on March 21 by submitting his nomination papers from the Udhampur-Kathua Lok Sabha constituency, marking the onset of preparations for the first phase of general elections in Jammu and Kashmir scheduled for April 19.
The announcement for the Udhampur-Kathua constituency, alongside 102 seats across 17 States and four Union Territories slated for the first phase of polling, was made earlier in the week.
Accompanied by his wife, Manju Singh, and Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Mr. Singh filed his nomination papers at the office of Returning Officer Rakesh Minhas in Kathua town, as confirmed by officials.
Before this formal step, Mr. Singh commenced his day with a puja ceremony at his residence in the Trikuta Nagar area, surrounded by friends and relatives, aligning his campaign with traditional customs.
Expressing gratitude for the support garnered over the years, the two-time MP from Udhampur-Kathua expressed his intentions for a third consecutive victory, extending his thanks to the electorate while seeking their blessings for another term.
Addressing a gathering in Kathua, Mr. Singh highlighted the region’s development under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, underscoring the opposition’s alleged failure to acknowledge progress.
Ahead of his nomination, a rally was organized featuring Dalip Singh Rana, popularly known as ‘The Great Khali’ from his wrestling career, alongside BJP J&K chief Ravinder Raina, both advocating for Singh’s candidacy and praising his developmental efforts in the region.
Historically a Congress stronghold, the Udhampur-Kathua constituency witnessed a significant shift in the 2014 elections, with Mr. Singh securing victory against veteran Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad. Subsequently, in 2019, he triumphed over Congress candidate Vikram Aditya Singh by a substantial margin.
With a recent summary revision boosting the constituency’s registered voters to over 16.20 lakhs, the upcoming Lok Sabha elections in Jammu and Kashmir are poised to unfold across five phases, commencing on April 19 for Udhampur, and concluding on May 20 for Baramulla.
The Ladakh Lok Sabha seat, spanning Kargil and Leh districts, will witness polling in the fifth phase of the electoral process.