PM Narendra Modi addressing a rally in Kishtwar in Jammu
Prime Minister Narendra Modi today launched a scathing attack on the ruling National Conference and the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in poll-bound Jammu and Kashmir, urging people to rid the state from the "yoke of this dynastic rule".
Addressing a rally in Jammu's Kishtwar town, the Prime Minister, without naming either party, said, "One family rules and robs the state for five years and then after it becomes unpopular, it gives the power to rob the state to the other family. They have done a political match fixing between themselves."
The state will see a five-phase election between November 25 and December 20. The votes will be counted on December 23.
This is Mr Modi's fifth visit to the state since taking charge as the Prime Minister in May. His party, the BJP is aiming to win over 50 of the state's 88 seats. The Omar Abdullah-led government is said to be facing massive anti-incumbency following the devastating floods of September.
The BJP's best-ever performance was in the 2008 elections, when it got 11 seats.
The party draws its confidence from its stupendous performance in this year's national elections when it won 282 of 545 seats and also from its recent successes in elections in Congress-ruled states like Haryana and Maharashtra.