Blow to BJP as NC-Congress alliance takes lead in Kashmir polls
World
Congress-NC alliance, the PDP, and the BJP were the main contenders
(Web Desk) - The Congress-National Conference alliance has crossed the halfway mark and secured 49 seats out of 90, winning the Assembly elections and is set to form the government.
Of these, 42 seats belong to the National Conference, six to the Indian National Congress and one to the Communist Party of India, say reports.
The first assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir since 2014 were held in three phases. The initial phase held on Sept 18 saw voting for 24 seats, followed by the second phase on Sept 25, covering 26 seats. The third phase, for the remaining 40 seats, occurred on Oct 1.
The main contenders in the highly anticipated election were the Congress-National Conference alliance, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
This election came five years after Jammu and Kashmir was split into two union territories - Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh.
Commenting on the potential of a post-election alliance, National Conference (NC) president Farooq Abdullah said his party was open to collaborating with Mehbooba Mufti's PDP if necessary to form the government in the region.
It merits mention that the BJP may have support in Hindu-dominated Jammu but no group support in Kashmir valley.
Also, as the result has shown, the victory of other parties and their alliances would lead to complete failure of BJP’s five-year investment and political engineering in the occupied Kashmir.
Also, the BJO has been defeated despite the fact that the entire state machinery was deployed and police reshuffled to manipulate results in its favour.
It is clear that the Kashmiris have rejected abrogation of special status.
J&K Election Result: Parties and seats won so far
National Conference: 42 seats
INC: 6 seats
BJP: 26 seats
Others: 6 wins
