Lagatar24 Desk
NEW DELHI: The National Conference (NC) and Congress alliance has emerged victorious in Jammu and Kashmir’s first Assembly election in a decade, defying exit poll predictions that suggested a hung assembly. The alliance claimed 49 of the union territory’s 90 seats, five short of a full majority but enough to form the government.
NC’s Dominance in the Election
Out of the 49 seats won by the alliance, the National Conference proved to be the dominant player, securing 42 seats, while Congress managed a mere six. The BJP finished with 29 seats, four more than it had in the 2014 election but falling short of expectations, despite its increased vote share.
BJP’s Vote Share and Seat Tally
Despite winning 29 seats, the BJP’s vote share stood at 25.63%, making it the biggest party in terms of vote percentage. However, this gain in vote share did not translate into enough seats for the party to challenge the NC-Congress alliance. The PDP, which was predicted to play the role of a kingmaker, won only three seats, dashing its hopes of influencing the outcome.
Omar Abdullah Poised to Become Chief Minister
Omar Abdullah, who won from the Budgam and Ganderbal constituencies, is set to take over as the next Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir. His father, Farooq Abdullah, confirmed that he would not be seeking a fourth term as Chief Minister and instead nominated his son to the position.
Mehbooba Mufti’s PDP Suffers Major Setback
The People’s Democratic Party (PDP), led by former Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti, suffered a significant defeat, securing only three seats compared to the 28 it won in 2014. Mehbooba’s daughter, Iltija Mufti, lost her bid for the Bijbehara seat to the National Conference’s Bashir Shah Veeri.
CPIM and AAP Make Their Mark
The Communist Party of India (Marxist), which allied with the NC and Congress, secured one seat through Mohammad Tarigami in Kulgam. In a notable first, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) secured the Doda seat, with Mehraj Malik emerging victorious, marking AAP’s first win in Jammu and Kashmir.
Exit Polls Prove Inaccurate
Exit polls had predicted a close contest, with the NC-Congress alliance expected to win 43 seats, just shy of the majority mark of 46, while the BJP was predicted to win 26 seats. The PDP was forecast to win between four and 12 seats. However, the actual results saw the alliance comfortably securing 49 seats, with the PDP only managing to win three seats.
Controversy Over Nominated MLAs
A significant point of contention in this election was the new rule allowing Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha to nominate five additional MLAs to the Legislative Assembly. These members would include two women, two Kashmiri Pandits, and one displaced person from Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. The move had sparked criticism from the NC, Congress, and PDP, who saw it as a way for the BJP to manipulate the election outcome. However, with the NC-Congress alliance winning the election, this concern has been rendered moot.
The Jammu and Kashmir election results have paved the way for a new government in the union territory, with Omar Abdullah set to lead the administration.
