J-K Assembly Election: Jammu-Kashmir is all set to witness its first election in decades. The elections will be held in three phases September 18, 25, and October 1. Ahead of the polls, parties have uplifted their preparations. Congress leaders Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi have already reached the union territory, on a two-day visit to Jammu and Kashmir.

Not only Congress, but BJP has tightened its seatbelt too, Former National General Secretary and BJP leader Ram Madhav reached Srinagar on Wednesday and met senior police officers and discussed the security of BJP candidates in the elections. He is scheduled to hold meetings with representatives of various sections in Kashmir on Thursday.

J-K Elections: Rahul Gandhi, Mallikarjun Kharge Receive Warm Welcome

Congress leaders received a warm welcome upon their arrival, with party activists and supporters gathering outside the airport. The enthusiastic crowd even halted Gandhi's vehicle on the airport road, creating some tense moments for the security personnel escorting him.

The two leaders are visiting the UT for key meetings in connection with the three-phased assembly elections beginning September 18, a senior Congress leader said. There were no official meetings scheduled for the two leaders for Wednesday, he said.

On Thursday, the two leaders are set to hold in-depth discussions with party leaders and workers from 10 districts in the Kashmir valley. The meetings will start at 10 am, and afterward, the leaders are expected to engage with the media.

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They are also likely to meet National Conference (NC) leadership to discuss a possible pre-poll alliance, party sources said.

J-K Elections: BJP Not Contesting On All Seats

Ram Madhav played the role of a mastermind in the formation of the BJP-PDP coalition government after the 2014 assembly elections. Once again, the party high command has fielded Ram Madhav to execute the BJP's strategy of winning the assembly elections and forming the government.

Ram Madhav's entire focus will be on Kashmir and the other in-charge Union Minister G Kishan Reddy's focus will be on Jammu. BJP is not contesting elections on all seats in Kashmir.