Jammu (Jammu and Kashmir) [India], October 4 (ANI): BJP leader Tarun Chugh on Friday highlighted the role of India's youth in nation-building while taking a dig at opposition parties, and said that 'whenever there is an atmosphere of joy in the country, Rahul Gandhi and the rest of the INDI alliance parties start playing the tune of mourning.'

Speaking to reporters, the BJP leader said, 'Whenever there is an atmosphere of joy in the country, Rahul Gandhi and the rest of the INDI alliance parties start playing the tune of mourning. India's Gen-Z is engaged in making a self-reliant India. India is being advanced by following Prime Minister Modi's policies. Prime Minister Modi has given a goal to Gen-Z and is continuously working for Gen-Z. The result of this is visible across the entire country.'

Jammu and Kashmir BJP President Sat Sharma said the meeting also reviewed recently concluded Seva Pakhwada programs and planned upcoming programmes.

'The programmes of the Seva Pakhwada have been completed, and there will be discussions regarding some upcoming programs. There is also the Rajya Sabha election, and there will be discussions on that as well,' he said to ANI.

The remarks came ahead of a core group meeting of the BJP in Jammu and Kashmir, held to discuss organisational matters and crucial upcoming Rajya Sabha elections, set for October 24, to fill four seats in the Union Territory that have been vacant since 2021.

Earlier on September 24, the Election Commission of India (ECI) announced the by-elections for four Rajya Sabha seats from Jammu and Kashmir, and one seat in Punjab. Voting and counting for all five seats will be held on October 24.

All four Rajya Sabha seats in Jammu and Kashmir have been vacant since February 2021, after the retirement of Ghulam Nabi Azad, Mir Mohammad Fayaz, Shamsher Singh, and Nazir Ahmed Laway.

As per the notice by the ECI, these four vacancies will be filled by holding three separate elections, in accordance with the law on the subject, as each of these four vacancies fell under three different cycles.

In this context, it is stated that the decision of the Commission to hold separate elections was called in question before the Delhi High Court in 1994 on behalf of the Indian National Congress, contending that all three vacancies should be filled by holding a common election as the elections to the Rajya Sabha are held under the system of proportional representation.

The Delhi High Court, however, dismissed the petition, holding, inter alia, as follows: 'We are of the view that once the seats have been divided into the three categories from the inception, the Respondents were right in holding separate elections for each category. Now these three seats fall in three separate categories, so elections to these three seats have to be also separate', the ECI notification said.

One Rajya Sabha seat in Punjab will undergo polling after Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MP Sanjeev Arora resigned on July 1, without completing his term. His term was set to be completed on April 9, 2028.

For all five seats, the issue of notifications will take place on October 6. The last date for making nominations will be October 13.

According to the Election Commission, the scrutiny of nominations will take place on October 14, and the last date for withdrawal of candidatures is October 16.

The polling will take place between 9:00 am and 4:00 pm on October 24, with counting of votes starting at 5:00 pm on the same day. (ANI)