Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday assured leaders from Jammu and Kashmir (J K) that the central government is in favour of holding assembly elections in J K and also restore its statehood once the delimitation exercise is over.

The prime minister had called an all-party meeting comprising 14 leaders from J K to discuss the prevailing situation in the Union Territory and its future course of action at his residence in New Delhi. This was the first such outreach exercise from the Centre since August 2019 when it abrogated Article 370 and bifurcated the erstwhile state into two UTs.

Prime Minister Modi was accompanied by Union Home Minister Amit Shah, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir Manoj Sinha during the meeting. The 14 leaders from J K were from eight parties, including the National Conference, the PDP, the BJP and the Congress.