Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has launched his party's campaign for the upcoming Jammu and Kashmir Assembly elections, pledging to restore statehood to the region if the INDIA bloc comes to power. Gandhi criticized the BJP-led central government for failing to restore statehood and condemned the J&K Lieutenant Governor for acting like a monarch and giving contracts to outsiders. He highlighted the significance of statehood for democracy and promised it would be the first priority of an INDIA bloc government. The region's first elections in nearly a decade are set to begin on September 18. Gandhi's campaign also underscores his family's historical ties to Kashmir, aiming to resonate emotionally with the electorate.