The recently concluded assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir have marked a significant political shift, as the INDIA bloc, comprising various parties, is poised to form the first elected government in the region since the abrogation of Article 370 five years ago. The alliance secured 49 out of 90 seats, with the National Conference (NC) and Indian National Congress (INC) winning a combined total of 48 seats.
In this election, the National Conference emerged as the largest party, winning 42 seats, just short of a majority. This victory underscores the NC’s longstanding influence in Jammu and Kashmir’s political landscape. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) also made notable gains, achieving its best performance yet in the region with 29 seats, up from 25 in 2014.
Despite the BJP’s overall success, its president in Jammu and Kashmir, Ravindra Raina, faced defeat in the Nowshera constituency. However, the party’s vote share saw an increase from 23% in the last election to 25.64% this year, indicating a growing support base.
Omar Abdullah, the vice president of the National Conference and son of the party’s patron Farooq Abdullah, has been designated as the next chief minister. Abdullah secured his seat in Budgam by defeating the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) candidate Aga Syed Muntazir Mehdi by over 18,000 votes. He also reinforced his party’s dominance by winning in Ganderbal with a margin exceeding 10,000 votes against PDP’s Bashir Ahmad Mir.
The elections also featured some remarkable victories characterized by wide margins. Notably, BJP candidate Devender Rana won the Nagrota seat by a staggering 30,472 votes, the highest margin recorded in these elections. Rana, who had previously contested as an NC candidate, successfully held his position against NC’s Joginder Singh.
Another notable victory was achieved by AICC general secretary Ghulam Ahmad Mir, who won with a margin of 29,728 votes. Additionally, Surjit Singh Slathia, a former NC member who contested as a BJP candidate, won the Samba seat with a margin of 29,481 votes. The BJP saw multiple candidates win by margins exceeding 20,000 votes.
In contrast, the elections also had some closely contested races. The lowest winning margins were observed in Tral and Kishtwar, where PDP’s Rafiq Ahmad Naik and BJP’s Shagun Parihar won by just 460 and 521 votes, respectively. The competitive nature of these contests highlights the diverse political dynamics in the region.
Several candidates also emerged victorious with tight margins, illustrating the fierce competition. Sajad Gani Lone of the People’s Conference retained his family’s stronghold in Handwara by a mere 662 votes, while NC’s Javaid Riyaz won against Imran Ansari with a narrow margin of 603 votes.
The assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir have not only paved the way for the formation of a new government but also underscored the evolving political landscape in the region. As the INDIA bloc prepares to take charge, the implications of these results will be closely watched by both local and national observers.
The outcome of this election represents a significant chapter in Jammu and Kashmir’s political history, setting the stage for potential changes in governance and policy direction in the Union territory