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Observers say the INDIA bloc wants to keep the pot boiling ahead of the Panchayat and ULB polls, which are expected to be held by the end of this year
The leaders discussed the Statehood Resolution passed by the J&K Legislative Assembly on September 28 and decided to launch a joint campaign to pressurise the Central Government for its early restoration. Representational image/PTI
In a significant political development ahead of the crucial Panchayat and Urban Local Bodies elections, senior leaders of the INDIA bloc constituents, including Jammu and Kashmir National Conference (JKNC), Jammu and Kashmir Peoples Democratic Party (JKPDP), and Congress, on Saturday held a high-level indoor deliberation for over two hours in Jammu and announced a massive joint agitation from October 7 across the Union Territory.
The meeting, which is being seen as a show of unity after the recent war of words between alliance partners over seat sharing and the September 28 Statehood Resolution in the Assembly, was held at the Congress Headquarters, Shaheedi Chowk, Jammu.
The meeting was chaired by JKPCC Working President Raman Bhalla and was attended by senior Congress leaders Ravinder Sharma, former MLC and Chief Spokesperson, and Mula Ram, former Minister. From the National Conference, Provincial President Advocate Rattan Lal Gupta and senior leader Sheikh Bashir Ahmed participated, while PDP was represented by senior leader Rajinder Manhas.
Three Core Issues Dominate Agenda
According to sources present inside the meeting, three major issues dominated the two-hour-long deliberation.
SIR Issue – Special Intensive Revision of Electoral Rolls
The leaders expressed serious concern over the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls being carried out by the Election Commission of India in Jammu and Kashmir ahead of the Panchayat polls. The INDIA bloc leaders alleged that the exercise is being used to delete genuine voters, particularly from the strongholds of opposition parties, and to add bogus voters at the behest of the BJP.
At A Glance
Senior leaders of the INDIA bloc held a high-level indoor deliberation for over two hours in Jammu.
The meeting was chaired by JKPCC Working President Raman Bhalla.
Three major issues dominated the deliberation: Special Intensive Revision of Electoral Rolls (SIR), the functioning of the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC), and the restoration of statehood to Jammu and Kashmir.
The INDIA bloc announced a massive joint agitation from October 7 across the Union Territory.
The alliance plans to hold protests at all district headquarters on October 7 and submit a joint memorandum to the Chief Election Commissioner.
CEC Issue – Attack on Election Commission
The second and most important issue, according to the leaders, was the functioning of the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) and the Election Commission of India. The bloc has decided to give special emphasis to the CEC issue during its upcoming protests. The leaders alleged that the Election Commission, which is considered an independent constitutional institution, is working under pressure from the Central Government.
Statehood Issue
The third major issue was the restoration of statehood to Jammu and Kashmir. The leaders discussed the Statehood Resolution passed by the J&K Legislative Assembly on September 28 and decided to launch a joint campaign to pressurise the Central Government for its early restoration. The resolution, which has been opposed by the BJP, links the restoration of statehood with the restoration of constitutional guarantees that existed before August 5, 2019.
Massive Protest from Oct 7
After the meeting, leaders of all INDIA bloc constituents jointly addressed the media and announced that they are going to start massive protests from October 7 in Jammu and Kashmir.
Addressing the media, Congress Working President Raman Bhalla said, “We held a detailed meeting of all INDIA alliance partners. We have decided that from October 7, we will start a massive agitation across Jammu and Kashmir. The BJP government at the Centre has failed on all fronts and is trying to muzzle the voice of opposition through misuse of agencies and institutions.”
Advocate Rattan Lal Gupta, Provincial President of National Conference, said, “The SIR exercise is nothing but an attempt to manipulate voter lists. Thousands of genuine voters, especially Gujjars, Bakerwals, and poor labourers, are being deleted. We will not allow this to happen. We will go to every district and protest.”
Rajinder Manhas of PDP said that the alliance will hold protests at all district headquarters on October 7 and will submit a joint memorandum to the Chief Election Commissioner through the Divisional Commissioners of Jammu and Kashmir.
Taking Aim at Modi Government
Targeting the BJP-led Centre, the INDIA bloc leaders alleged that all independent institutions have been made irrelevant by the Modi government.
“All independent institutions of this country, be it the Election Commission, Enforcement Directorate, CBI, Income Tax Department, and even the judiciary to some extent, have been made irrelevant by the Modi government. They are being used as tools to target opposition leaders and to topple opposition governments,” said Ravinder Sharma.
The leaders said that the current situation in the country is such that democracy is in danger and that it is the duty of all opposition parties to come together to save the Constitution.
“The way Rahul Gandhi ji is raising the issue of vote theft and SIR, the BJP is rattled. Instead of answering, they are diverting the issue,” Mula Ram said.
Political Significance
The meeting holds political significance as it comes just a day after BJP’s core group meeting in Jammu, which was chaired by BJP National General Secretary Tarun Chugh. In that meeting, BJP had chalked out its strategy to counter the opposition’s narrative on statehood and had accused the National Conference of trying to bring back Article 370 and 35A in the name of statehood.
Political observers believe that Jammu is now witnessing a direct face-off between the BJP and the INDIA bloc over the statehood issue. While the BJP says it is committed to restoring statehood at an appropriate time as promised by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah on the floor of Parliament, the opposition says the Centre is deliberately delaying it to keep J&K under direct control.
The announcement of protests from October 7 also indicates that the INDIA bloc wants to keep the pot boiling ahead of the Panchayat and ULB polls, which are expected to be held by the end of this year.
Meanwhile, sources said that the INDIA bloc will also hold a joint rally in Jammu on October 12, which will be addressed by senior leaders of all three parties.
What Happens Next
As per the plan announced, from October 7, the INDIA bloc will:
a) Hold dharnas at District Headquarters in Jammu, Srinagar, Anantnag, Baramulla, Rajouri, Poonch, Udhampur, Kathua, and other districts.
b) Submit a memorandum to the CEC.
c) Launch a door-to-door campaign to make people aware of the SIR issue.
d) Hold protests on demand for restoration of statehood.
With both BJP and INDIA bloc holding meetings on the same day in Jammu, the political temperature in the Union Territory has once again risen.
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Ask News18The INDIA bloc constituents, including JKNC, JKPDP, and Congress, announced a massive joint agitation starting October 7 across Jammu and Kashmir to protest against the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls, the functioning of the Election Commission of India, and to demand the early restoration of statehood.
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Jammu, India, India
October 04, 2026, 00:24 IST
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