First vote

Campaigning for the first phase of elections ended in J&K and Jharkhand on Sunday. The Indian Express team tracks parties’ approach and what’s at stake on Tuesday.

Sonia Gandhi at an election rally in Daltonganj on Sunday. (Source: PTI)

WHO WAS WHERE

Azad in Jammu, rates city as more cosmopolitan than Srinagar

Ghulam Nabi Azad on Sunday described Jammu as more cosmopolitan than Srinagar. While releasing the Congress manifesto in Jammu, he said, “Since 1947, there have been Hindu ministers such as Girdhari Lal Dogra, Pandit Mangat Ram Sharma and Pandit Tirlochan Dutt Sahib, but have any of them built a house in Kashmir?’’ he said, and added, “None. In Jammu, whether it is Hindu, Muslim or Buddhist, everybody has built a house.” He added the people of Kashmir are secular, but Jammu is the most sought-after place for building a house in the state. As such, if Article 370 is gone, the people of Jammu will be affected more than those in Kashmir as rates will go up to Rs 10 crore a marla, he said.

Sonia gandhi in jharkhand, rates BJP performance with stats

Sonia Gandhi addressed a rally at Gumla town, where she mocked the BJP for its promise of development, saying it had ruled the state the longest. The BJP’s four governments stayed in power for 2,982 of the 5,116 days since Jharkhand’s formation. Of the rest, 621 days were taken up by three spells of President’s rule. “I have to ask BJP leaders who is responsible for this situation,” she said, describing the poor development of Jharkhand.

Mehbooba to MODI: You are PM, Don’t look ridiculous

Mehbooba Mufti on Sunday hit back at Narendra Modi after his Kishtwar address, saying his rhetoric should be “restricted to decent levels” and when the Prime Minister of the country speaks “he should not allow it to look ridiculous”. On Saturday, Modi had accused the Abdullah and Mufti families of “looting” J&K by turns. Mehbooba responded at a rally at Homeshalibugh: “The Prime Minister of India should get his facts correct before commenting on other parties. It seems the Prime Minister has serious gaps in his knowledge of Jammu and Kashmir. Even in election time, the rhetoric should be restricted to decent levels and when the Prime Minister of the country speaks, he should not allow it to look ridiculous as his comments about PDP in Kishtwar address sounded.”

MANIFESTO

Cong slips on 73rd amendment

The Congress manifesto for J&K, released Sunday, does away with the promise of extending the 73rd amendment to the Constitution (for empowerment of panchayats) because it claims that has already been done.

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“It was after a great struggle by the Congress party that the main features of the 73rd Amendment of the Constitution of India were incorporated into the J&K State Panchayati Raj Act,’’ reads the Congress manifesto, released by Ghulam Nabi Azad. “After elections… the first priority will be to strengthen and fully establish all the remaining tiers of panchayati raj system.”

The Act is in fact yet to be amended. A cabinet meeting recently approved provisions to be incorporated, but the polls were declared before the draft bill could be introduced in the legislature.

The manifesto also promises a minority commission and police reforms, jobs, and inclusive development.