LS Elections 2024: Lal Singh, who drew controversy in Kathua rape-murder case, returns to Cong

(L) J&K Pradesh Congress Committee president Viqar Rasool Wani welcoming Lal Singh.

Lal Singh, who attracted controversy in the Kathua rape and murder case and a two-time MP, is back in the Congress camp days before the Lok Sabha polls to take on Jitendra Singh, MoS PMO, at the Udhampur seat.

The 65-year-old politician has returned to the party after a 10-year divorce. Lal Singh moved to the saffron squad after the Congress denied him the ticket to contest the 2014 general elections despite representing Udhampur since 2004.

In the last Assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir held in 2014, when the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) formed a coalition government with the PDP, Singh was a cabinet minister.

But he snapped his ties with the BJP in April 2018 when he was removed from the cabinet headed by then chief minister Mehbooba Mufti for participating in a rally in support of the Kathua rape and murder accused.

After leaving the BJP, Lal Singh launched his own outfit, Dogra Swabhiman Sangathan Party, with a focus on the rights of Dogras of the Jammu region and contested the 2019 Lok Sabha polls from Udhampur but was defeated by BJP's Jitendra Singh, who had secured 7,24,311 votes with a share of 61.38 percent. Lal Sing had to contend with only 19,049 votes.

Analysts see his homecoming as a potential challenge to the ruling BJP, but that is possible only after regional parties like the National Conference consolidates votes in his favour.

It would be interesting to see how the Democratic Azad Party, led by former Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad, performs, as it has fielded GM Saroori from the constituency.

Saroori, who has a hold in a few constituencies, is likely to divide the Muslim votes. The Congress is in talks with the National Conference and wants the regional party to leave the two seats in the Hindu-dominated Jammu region for it.

Both the PDP and the NC have been strong critics of Lal Singh for lending his support to the protestors in Rasana, demanding a CBI investigation in the rape and murder of a nomadic girl.

On November 7, 2023, the Enforcement Directorate arrested Lal Singh in connection with a case against an educational trust run by his wife, Kanta Andotra, also a former legislator under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). However, he was granted bail by the court on November 23.