Lagatar24 Desk
New Delhi: The Congress, already struggling after a defeat in Haryana, has found itself sidelined in Jammu and Kashmir after four independent MLAs extended their support to the National Conference (NC), solidifying the party’s majority in the 90-member Jammu and Kashmir Assembly.
The independents — Pyare Lal Sharma, Satish Sharma, Choudhary Mohammed Akram, and Dr Rameshwar Singh, who won the Inderwal, Chhamb, Surankote, and Bani seats respectively — have pledged their backing to the NC. This brings the National Conference’s total support to 46 lawmakers, hitting the majority mark, excluding the five additional members who will be nominated by Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha.
Congress Relegated to the Sidelines
This development has significantly diminished the Congress’ influence, reducing the party from a junior partner in the NC-led coalition to a non-essential player. The Congress had initially secured six seats in Tuesday’s vote, compared to the NC’s 42. Now, the National Conference no longer requires Congress’ support to govern the state.
Although a slim majority, the loss of even one MLA would bring the NC below the majority mark. In that scenario, Congress’ six seats could still come into play. However, at present, Congress has been relegated to the background, while the NC stands firmly at the helm of the newly-formed government.
BJP Gains in Jammu, PDP Falters
Meanwhile, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) performed as expected in the Jammu region, initially securing 29 seats, which later increased to 32 with the support of three other independents. Former Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti’s People’s Democratic Party (PDP), once a strong contender, crumbled in the election, winning only three seats — a dramatic decline from its 2014 tally of 28.
This outcome defied exit poll predictions, which had forecasted a hung assembly in Jammu and Kashmir. The NC’s decisive victory provides some consolation for opposition parties following Congress’ defeat in Haryana, which drew sharp criticism from allies like Shiv Sena (Uddhav Thackeray faction) and Mamata Banerjee’s Trinamool Congress.
Omar Abdullah to Become Chief Minister
As anticipated, Omar Abdullah, the Vice President of the NC, was unanimously elected the party’s legislative leader during a meeting of its MLAs this afternoon. He will take over as the next Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir, a role he has held in the past.
His father, party patriarch Farooq Abdullah, had earlier confirmed this decision, telling reporters on Tuesday, “Omar Abdullah banega Chief Minister” as the NC edged closer to victory.
