Jammu & Kashmir assembly poll results: NC-Cong alliance likely to form new government

Srinagar: With a steady lead in 50 constituencies, the coalition of the Jammu and Kashmir National Conference (NC) and Congress seemed well on course to form the government in Jammu and Kashmir. BJP has gained the lead in only 26 seats, while independent candidates are leading in six. Former Chief Minister and Jammu and Kashmir National Conference vice-president Omar Abdullah is leading by 3942 votes in Ganderbal, and in Budgam, he has taken a lead of 4511 votes. He is contesting polls from two seats. Surinder Kumar Choudhary of Jammu and Kashmir National Conference has upped his lead by 9661 votes in Nowshera against BJP state president Ravinder Raina. Jammu and Kashmir Peoples Democratic Party has taken the lead in 4 seats; Karnah, Kupwara, Pampore and Pulwama. However, Iltija Mehbooba Mufti, the 36-year-old-daughter of former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti, who made her electoral debut in assembly polls, is trailing by 4334 votes against Bashir Ahmad Shah Veeri of Jammu and Kashmir National Conference in Srigufwara-Bijbehara constituency. This constituency has remained a traditional stronghold for the PDP and Mufti family has won from Srigufwara-Bijbehara since 1996. 

The People's Democratic Party (PDP) and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which are contesting independently, are trailing behind. The PDP-BJP coalition previously collapsed in June 2018 after the BJP withdrew support from then-Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti’s PDP, prompting President Ram Nath Kovind's imposition of Governor’s Rule. The PDP, which decided to go solo in the assembly polls, is leading in three constituencies: Karnah, Kupwara, and Pulwama.

 28 counting centres have been set up across 20 districts for the 90 constituencies in Jammu and Kashmir.

Assembly elections were held across its 90 constituencies in three phases on September 18, September 25, and October 1, marking the region's first polls in a decade. These elections are the first since the abrogation of Article 370 in August 2019, bifurcating the former state with special status into the Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh. Statehood and unemployment have been major poll issues in Jammu and Kashmir during the campaign.

Exit polls
Exit polls released on Saturday indicate that the NC-Congress alliance holds the lead, with the regional party expected to secure most seats.

The BJP is predicted to slightly increase its tally from the 25 seats it won in the 2014 assembly elections, while the PDP, which won 28 seats a decade ago, is projected to win fewer than 10 seats this time.

Predictions suggest that pollsters have given emerging parties such as the People's Conference, Apni Party, Ghulam Nabi Azad's Democratic Azad Party, and Sheikh Abdul Rashid's Awami Ittehad Party little chance. Together with independents, these parties are expected to secure around 10 seats.

Prominent candidates
Among the prominent candidates are National Conference (NC) leader Omar Abdullah, who is competing in the Budgam and Ganderbal segments; Sajad Gani Lone from the People's Conference, who is contesting in Handwara and Kupwara; Pradesh Congress Committee president Tariq Hamid Karra, who is running for the Batamaloo seat; and BJP state president Ravindra Raina, who is contesting from Nowshera.

Other notable contenders include AICC general secretary Ghulam Ahmad Mir (Dooru), PDP leaders Waheed Para (Pulwama), Iltija Mufti (Bijbehara), Apni Party president Altaf Bukhari (Chanapora), CPM veteran Mohammad Yousuf Tarigami (Kulgam), and former deputy chief ministers Muzaffar Hussain Baig and Tara Chand.

Arrangements in place
Jammu and Kashmir witnessed a voter turnout of 64 per cent this time, with political parties fielding candidates across all 90 seats and a record number of independent candidates also contesting. The fate of 873 candidates contesting in the 90-member assembly will be revealed by Tuesday evening.

Two counting centres have been set up in Kupwara, Samba, Jammu, Udhampur, and Reasi districts, while one centre has been allocated to each of the remaining districts. Additionally, three centres have been designated for migrant voters. ECI-appointed observers will oversee the process at all locations.