Udhampur Lok Sabha constituency is without doubt one of the six Parliamentary constituencies within the UT of Jammu and Kashmir. The constituency covers 20,230 sq. kilometre of mountainous Himalayan terrain, and is corresponding to the scale of Israel and is the largest constituency when it comes to geographical space. There are 17 meeting constituencies which make up the Lok Sabha constituency of Udhampur from 4 districts of Kishtwar, Doda, Udhampur and Kathua. Voting for Lok Sabha polls in Udhampur will happen on April 19 within the first section. The counting of votes will happen on June 4.
2019 End result and 2024 Candidates
In 2019, Dr Jitendra Singh received the Udhampur Lok Sabha election after bagging 7.24 lakh votes and a staggering vote share of 61.38%. He’s the BJP candidate from the seat but once more.
The Congress has fielded former BJP chief Choudhary Lal Singh from the Udhampur constituency. The DPAP of Ghulam Nabi Azad has fielded GM Saroori
Key Points
Article 370 stays the largest problem this election in Jammu and Kashmir. Hoever, on the constituency degree, Udhampur sees a number of different points like unemployment, improvement amongst others. Right here’s a have a look at the important thing problems with Udhampur Lok Sabha seat:
Article 370
4 years after being revoked, Article 370 has taken centre stage within the ballot marketing campaign in Jammu and Kashmir, extra so within the Udhampur Lok Sabha constituency. The BJP is branding the revocation of the Article as the explanation that each one spherical improvement within the type of highways, railways, roads, speedy rail, metro, IITs, IIMs, medical schools, AIIMS, tunnels and trendy infrastructure might happen.
Spiritual Tensions
Whereas areas like Kathua and Udhampur have a Hindu majority with pockets of Muslim inhabitants, the areas of Doda, Kishtwar, Ramban, and Bhaderwah are predominantly Muslim. This demographic divide has traditionally influenced voting patterns, with Hindu voters largely supporting the BJP and Muslim voters aligning with Congress. The 2019 election noticed Ghulam Nabi Azad, now a tacit ally of BJP, lose the seat resulting from a surge in Hindu voter turnout. Within the upcoming election, INC candidate Lal Singh faces a problem in securing Muslim votes resulting from his BJP antecedents and controversial remarks up to now. Regardless of Nationwide Convention leaders, Farooq Abdullah and Omar Abdullah, campaigning for Lal Singh within the Muslim-majority Chenab valley area, it stays unsure whether or not their affect will sway Muslim voters. The non secular divide and the historic voting patterns recommend that bridging this hole and securing votes throughout non secular traces might be a big problem for Lal Singh and the Congress.
Ram Mandir
Ram Mandir is a giant problem which goes to learn BJP. BJP’s star campaigners are loudly searching for votes on Ram Mandir. The bulk Hindu inhabitants in Udhampur see the Ram Mandir as a fulfilment of their lengthy want and has offered them a non secular impetus which connects them with the remainder of Hindus throughout India. Udhampur had additionally seen the participation of kar sevaks from the constituency again in 1992.
Frustration Over Unemployment
The residents of Udhampur have expressed rising discontent with the state of employment alternatives and hiring practices. There are accusations of native expertise being missed for profitable positions, that are as an alternative being provided to people from outdoors the area. This has fostered a way of resentment and the notion that native staff are handled as inferior. Regardless of the labour workforce participation fee standing at a excessive 79.12% the per capita earnings of round Rs 14,644 exhibits a distinct story.
Inflation
Inflation is a serious problem in Udhampur which the federal government has to this point failed to handle. Inflation has been on the rise for 3 straight years in Udhampur. Inflation has remained in double digits with 10.96% in 2022. Vegetable value rise fee jumped to 38.45%. This has led to the essential articles similar to tomatoes, potatoes, pulses, cereals and paddy changing into out of attain of individuals within the decrease financial strata. The opposition has additionally taken purpose on the authorities for its lack of ability to maintain costs in verify.
Improvement
Udhampur has seen a slew of developmental tasks happening within the constituency, which has improved connectivity, healthcare, and has additionally seen Udhampur changing into an academic hub within the area. Furthermore, a improvement grasp plan has been put in place for the constituency to advertise, information and rationalise the longer term progress and improvement of city centres. It is going to endorse progress within the desired route, promote financial improvement, bettering service supply and offering facilities to its folks.
Ingesting Water
The difficulty has persevered for a big period of time, leaving many villages with no dependable water provide. In line with studies, some areas haven’t acquired any water provide for over a yr, forcing residents to depend on different and infrequently unreliable sources like hand pumps and pure springs. The water shortage has disrupted each day life for a lot of residents, impacting sanitation, hygiene, and total well-being. Ladies and youngsters are disproportionately affected, as they usually bear the accountability of amassing water from distant sources. This case is especially regarding because it has led to well being dangers because of the consumption of probably contaminated water.
Viksit Bharat schemes
The Udhampur-Kathua Lok Sabha constituency has achieved close to saturation in all schemes, similar to Kisan Credit score Card, PM Ujjwal Yojana and PM Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojana, being coated beneath the Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra. Whereas in agriculture associated schemes like Kisan Credit score Card and PM Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojana and many others, moreover PM Ujjwal Yojana, almost 100% saturation has been achieved, Ayushman Card has achieved almost 99% goal and tempo has been considerably elevated for Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana which has proved to be a game-changer by offering Pucca homes to those that had by no means dreamt of it or desired it. PM Vishwakarma Yojana has empowered artisans and craft individuals by offering them monetary help to propel their craft which was dying. The federal government will not be solely providing them a stipend however can also be offering them coaching in order that their companies thrive, and extra youth take up the craft which is fetching dwindling returns.
Infrastructure Improvement in Udhampur
From street infrastructure to rail and healthcare, Udhampur has seen new tasks come up up to now few years.
Highway Infrastructure
Udhampur-Kathua-Doda Lok Sabha constituency has witnessed unprecedented progress in street and bridge building within the final over 9 years, the notable amongst them being the Atal Setu at Basohli, Keediyan Gadyal and Juthana bridges in Kathua, Devika Bridge at Udhampur, new Nationwide Freeway from Khilani-Marmat in Doda to Sudhmahadev, Kaljugar tunnel and many others. Chattergala is a historic landmark mission offering all-weather alternate street connectivity between the 2 distant areas and decreasing the journey time from Doda to Lakhanpur to only round 4 hours. Chattergala Challenge envisages a 6.8 Km lengthy tunnel for which the Feasibility Survey has already been performed by Border Roads Organisation.
Rail Infrastructure
Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the nation’s longest railway tunnel on the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Hyperlink on Feb 20, 2024. The 12.77-km-long tunnel, often known as T-50, is a part of the Banihal-Khari-Sumber-Sangaldan part, permitting trains to run from Baramulla to Sangaldan. The full size of the USBRL is 272 km and the price of the mission is Rs 41,119 crore.
Medical Faculties and Well being Care infrastructure
During the last 9 years, the constituency has witnessed a growth in medical schools with 3 schools opening in a brief span, and an AIIMS.
Chenab Rail Bridge
The best railway bridge on this planet larger than the Eiffel tower and Dr. Shyama Prasad Mookherjee tunnel, the longest street tunnel, is situated on this constituency.
Inter Modal Station
The institution of an Inter Modal Station (IMS) at Katra situated on this constituency will open quite a few alternatives for the folks when it comes to non secular tourism.
Katra-Delhi Categorical street hall
The Katra-Delhi Categorical Highway Hall is a proposed infrastructure mission geared toward considerably decreasing journey time between Katra, the bottom camp for the Vaishno Devi pilgrimage, and the nationwide capital, Delhi. The mission envisions a contemporary expressway with diminished congestion and improved journey effectivity. Whereas specifics concerning the mission’s timeline and present standing are restricted, its completion guarantees to bolster connectivity, improve tourism, and stimulate financial progress within the area.
First seed processing plant of J&Okay
Seed Processing Plant with 16 lakh seed era and 24 lakh seed processing capability, the first-of-its-kind, have come up on this complete area. The brand new Seed Processing Plant might be catering not solely to district Kathua but additionally to the whole Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir and the 2 adjoining States of Punjab and Himachal Pradesh. This is not going to solely enrich the standard of crops sown by them but additionally allow them to obtain seed of a superior high quality at a lesser value which, will in flip elevate the margin of their revenue out there.
Healthcare hub
Kathua-Udhampur-Doda’ Parliamentary Constituency may very well be the longer term ‘Well being Circuit’ of India with state-of-the-art Healthcare Services like 3 Medical Faculties, AIIMS, Biotech Park and many others. The institution of Daycare Chemotherapy Unit at GMC Kathua affiliated to Tata Memorial Hospital right now, most cancers remedy goes to turn out to be accessible and inexpensive.
Who Stands The place
BJP Seems Set for a Hattrick
The Udhampur Lok Sabha seat has been with the BJP for 10 years. Dr Jitendra Singh, who holds the vital place of MoS on the Prime Minister’s Workplace, has been fielded by the BJP for a 3rd time, and appears set to win the constituency as soon as once more. Though the BJP is believed to be the frontrunner to win the seat, Udhampur is now witnessing a high-pitched and difficult contest between Jitendra Singh and Congress’ Choudhary Lal Singh.
Among the many components working in favour of the BJP, the largest is the normalisation of the scenario in neighbouring Kashmir, inauguration of Ram Mandir in Ayodhya and many others. Extravagant rallies and occasions had been organised throughout Udhampur to have a good time the consecration of Ram Lalla on the new temple in Ayodhya.
Congress Placing Up a Courageous Struggle
Congress candidate Choudhary Lal Singh is a firebrand chief who, coincidentally, was earlier within the BJP and even served as a Minister within the BJP-PDP authorities of the state. After the Abrogation of Article 370, he give up the BJP. Lal Singh is an advocate of restoration of the particular standing of Jammu and Kashmir, particularly job and land safety, within the type of Article 371.
Lal Singh can also be going through felony investigation and is at the moment out on bail in a cash laundering case registered by the Enforcement Directorate.
Ghulam Nabi Azad’s Wildcard Candidate
Congress’s dream of a Muslim vote consolidation has been dashed by former Congress chief Ghulam Nabi Azad complicating the electoral calculations. The Democratic Progressive Azad Get together (DPAP) of Ghulam Nabi Azad has fielded G.M Saroori, in Udhampur. Saroori, though a former minister and two-time MLA, has restricted affect, with most of his supporters restricted to the Kishtwar belt.
Nonetheless, he, together with the BSP candidate within the seat, might result in Muslim and Dalit votes splitting. This may absolutely assist Dr Jitendra Singh.
