J&K election results: The INDIA bloc is poised to form the first elected government in Jammu and Kashmir, having secured a victory in the assembly elections by securing 49 out of 90 seats on which polls were held for the first time since the abrogation of Article 370 five years ago. The National Conference (NC), the oldest regional party in J&K, emerged as the clear frontrunner, winning 42 seats and falling just six seats short of a majority of its own. Meanwhile, the Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI(M)] managed to secure the single seat allotted to it under the seat-sharing agreement, while the Congress party won six seats, with five of those in the Kashmir valley.
The National Conference and Congress alliance is expected to form the next government in Jammu and Kashmir
“Kashmir isn’t burning,” said PM Modi
“There were many who claimed that Kashmir would burn down if Article 370 was lifted. However, Kashmir is flourishing wonderfully and did not burn. The time of curfews and separatism is ending in our region of Jammu and Kashmir. In Jammu and Kashmir, we have restored the spirit and dignity of the Constitution. Is there any greater homage to Babasaheb Ambedkar than this?” he questioned party members in New Delhi.
PM Modi congratulated NC-Congress alliance for their win
“After decades of waiting, Jammu and Kashmir saw the peaceful holding of elections. This is a triumph for democracy and the Indian Constitution. People of Jammu and Kashmir provided more seats to National Conference and their coalition, and I would like to congratulate them as well. But if you look at the vote percentage, then BJP has emerged as the largest party among all those who contested the polls,” the prime minister remarked while addressing party members in New Delhi.
Shashi Tharoor on BJP
“In the end, what matters in a democracy is what the people want. The BJP’s assertion that they are warmly welcomed in J&K following the events of the past three to four years is obviously untrue. We’ve seen that there is an overwhelming reaffirmation of support for the NC-Congress relationship. We’re going to establish a stable, accountable government. Statehood will become more and more of a demand,” according to Congressman Shashi Tharoor.
AAP secured one seat in J&K
Arvind Kejriwal, the leader of the AAP, praised the party on Tuesday for winning the Doda Assembly seat in Jammu and Kashmir and establishing the party’s presence in a fifth state. In the Doda assembly constituency, Aam Aadmi Party candidate Mehraj Malik, a member of the District Development Council (DDC), received 23,228 votes as compared to Gajay Singh Rana of the BJP’s 18,690 votes.
Omar Abdullah’s statement after winning
This mandate makes me feel more modest. Following a personal disappointment in the Baramulla elections, I would like to express my sincere gratitude to every voter who placed their trust in the National Conference and the wider partnership. At the moment, it is for the National Conference legislative party to nominate its leader.
No-Muslim candidate was able to win from BJP
The National Conference and Congress alliance is expected to form the next government in Jammu and Kashmir after surpassing the majority mark by winning 48 seats. Even though the two coalition partners together fielded 30 candidates, including several Sikhs, only two Hindu faces emerged victorious on the ticket of the regional party. Nevertheless, the BJP, which had won 29 seats, now has one Sikh and 28 Hindu members because none of its Muslim candidates—including two former ministers—were successful.