Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched a sharp criticism against the Congress, National Conference (NC), and People’s Democratic Party (PDP) during a rally in Doda, Jammu & Kashmir, on Saturday. He accused these political parties referred to as "three political families" of undermining the state through dynastic politics. “This assembly election in Jammu and Kashmir is between three families and the youth of Jammu and Kashmir,” PM Modi said, targeting the leadership of the Congress, NC, and PDP. He alleged that these political families had committed "sins" by prioritizing family dynasties over the people. He emphasized that these families had long prevented the youth from rising in leadership roles. "Till now, ‘Pariwarwad’ (dynastic politics) did not allow the youth to come forward," Modi said, highlighting his government’s efforts to bring new leadership into Jammu and Kashmir after 2014. He referred to key elections held under his leadership, such as the Panchayat elections in 2018, Block Development Council (BDC) elections in 2019, and District Development Council (DDC) elections in 2020, as steps towards ensuring grassroots democracy. Modi went on to claim that the dynastic parties had weakened Jammu and Kashmir both politically and socially. “After Independence, Jammu and Kashmir became the target of foreign powers, and dynastic politics made this beautiful region hollow from within,” he said, accusing the political families of keeping leadership within their ranks while excluding others.

Criticism of Congress Leadership

During his speech, PM Modi took a direct swipe at Congress and former Union Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde. He referred to Shinde’s recent admission that he was afraid of militants while visiting Lal Chowk in Jammu and Kashmir during his tenure under the UPA-II government. Modi contrasted the current situation with the past, noting, "Remember the time when an unofficial curfew would be imposed here as soon as the sun set? Even the Home Minister of the Congress-led central government was afraid to go to Lal Chowk."

First Assembly Elections Since Article 370 Abrogation

The upcoming Jammu and Kashmir Assembly elections will be the first since the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019, which revoked the region’s special status. A total of 90 assembly constituencies will be contested, with 7 seats reserved for Scheduled Castes (SCs) and 9 seats for Scheduled Tribes (STs). According to the Election Commission of India, there are over 88 lakh eligible voters. In the last assembly elections, held before the abrogation of Article 370, the PDP won 28 seats, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) secured 25 seats, the National Conference won 15, and the Congress took 12 seats. As political tensions mount in Jammu and Kashmir, PM Modi’s speech underscores the BJP's focus on challenging traditional power structures and dynastic politics in the state.