Lucknow, September 14: Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav said on Saturday that his party is contesting in the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly election as part of its bid to become a 'National Party'. He said that the fact that the Assembly election is taking place for the first time in Jammu and Kashmir since the abrogation of Article 370 is another reason for the party to contest.

"SP is contesting elections in J&K because they are being held for the first time after the abrogation of Article 370. SP is contesting also because smaller states can contribute to making it a national party much more quickly," Yadav told reporters here. Jammu and Kashmir Assembly Elections 2024: From Omar Abdullah in Budgam and Ganderbal to Ravinder Raina in Nowshera, List of Key Candidates and Constituencies.

Jammu and Kashmir Assembly polls will be held in three phases on September 18, 25, and October 1. The counting will be done on October 8. There are a total number of 90 assembly constituencies in Jammu and Kashmir, out of which 7 seats are reserved for SCs and 9 seats are reserved for STs.

A political party is recognised as a national party if it meets any of the three conditions outlined in the Election Symbols (Reservation and Allotment) Order, 1968. These conditions are that it must receive at least six per cent of the votes cast in four or more states in Lok Sabha or assembly elections, and it must also have at least four Lok Sabha members; it holds at least two per cent of the Lok Sabha seats and has candidates from at least three states; and at least four states recognise it as a state party. Jammu and Kashmir Assembly Elections 2024: Congress Announces Names of 5 Candidates for Polls; Check List Here.

He also extended wishes to the people on the occasion of Hindi Diwas today. "I congratulate all of you on Hindi Diwas. On Hindi Diwas, we need to know about languages. The Hindi language has not been changed the way it should have been. We should promote Indian languages," he said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday extended greetings to the people on the occasion of Hindi Diwas."Many best wishes to all the countrymen on Hindi Diwas," PM Modi posted on X. Earlier today, Union Home Minister Amit Shah extended his heartfelt wishes to people on the occasion of Hindi Diwas and said, "Indian languages are our pride and heritage, and without enriching them, we cannot move forward."

"All Indian languages are our pride and heritage; without enriching them, we cannot move forward. Official language Hindi has an unbreakable relationship with every Indian language. This year, Hindi has completed 75 years of public communication and national unity as the official language of the country. I am confident that by taking all Indian languages together, official language Hindi will continue to contribute towards realising the resolution of a developed India," Amit Shah posted on X in Hindi. Hindi Diwas is observed annually on September 14 to commemorate the decision to adopt Hindi as one of the nation's official languages.

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