Prime Minister Narendra Modi will go on a two-day visit to Jammu and Kashmir on Thursday — his first in his third term — sending a massive political message after the successful conclusion of the general election in the Union Territory.
The occasion will be the celebration of the International Yoga Day, during which he will join a youth programme.
But with the visit sandwiched between two elections — the just-concluded general election and the coming assembly election, for which preparations are in progress — it sends a positive signal in the country and across the world.
The visit is also expected to balance the widespread concern following a series of terror attacks in the Jammu region. The backlash by terrorists following the scrapping of Article 370 and the record voter turnout in Kashmir Valley has been followed by questions over security.
The Prime Minister’s presence is meant to signal the government’s confidence and the long-term plans it has for the peace and prosperity in Jammu and Kashmir.
The erstwhile state, which was split into two Union Territories in 2019, had its last state-level elections in 2014. In June 2018, the alliance government of the BJP and the People’s Democratic Party collapsed as the BJP ended ties.
Now, sources say, preparations are progressing on a war footing at the Election Commission.
The other big event on the cards for PM Modi’s third term is the restoration of statehood to Jammu and Kashmir, which many expect to be scheduled after the assembly election.
