The counting of votes for the 90 assembly constituencies in Jammu and Kashmir concluded on Tuesday, with the National Conference-Congress alliance winning 49 seats. This marks a significant moment, as it establishes an elected government in the region after a six-year gap, following the collapse of the PDP-BJP regime on June 20, 2018, and the subsequent abrogation of Article 370. The majority mark for forming a government is set at 46 seats.
These elections, the first since 2014, were conducted in three phases. Voting began on September 18 for 24 seats, followed by a second phase on September 25 covering 26 seats, and the final phase for the remaining 40 seats occurred on October 8.
The key players in this high-stakes election included the Congress-National Conference alliance, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The election followed the 2019 split of Jammu and Kashmir into two Union Territories: Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh.
National Conference president Farooq Abdullah indicated his party’s openness to a potential alliance with Mehbooba Mufti’s PDP if necessary to form the government. Abdullah also criticized the BJP-led central government’s move to grant the Lieutenant Governor authority to nominate members to five reserved assembly seats, vowing to challenge this decision in the Supreme Court.
The counting process was secured by a three-tier security arrangement at all counting centers due to the region’s history of tensions and violence. Heavy security was deployed across all 20 counting centers and district headquarters in Jammu and Kashmir.
Exit polls released prior to the election indicated a lead for the NC-Congress alliance, predicting improved performance for the BJP compared to its 2014 results, where it secured 25 seats. Meanwhile, the PDP, which previously won 28 seats, is expected to secure fewer than 10 this time.
Emerging parties like the People’s Conference, Apni Party, and Democratic Azad Party are projected to win around 10 seats collectively, with independents included in that total.
Key contests included Gandebral, where Omar Abdullah of the National Conference faced Independent candidate Sarjan Ahmad Wagay, and Bijbehara, featuring Iltija Mufti from the PDP. Notably, Aijaz Ahmad Guroo, brother of Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru, contested as an Independent in Sopore.
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Electoral Officer P.K. Pole commended all stakeholders for successfully conducting these assembly elections, marking a significant milestone in the region’s democratic process after the abrogation of Article 370.
