Thanks to National Conference, Congress Celebrates Victory in Jammu & Kashmir

New Delhi: The National Conference (NC) and Congress triumphed in the Jammu and Kashmir elections on Tuesday, marking the first electoral event in the region in a decade and defying exit poll predictions of a hung Assembly. The alliance secured 49 of the union territory's 90 elected legislative seats, with five more to be nominated by Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha under a contentious new rule.

The NC emerged as the dominant partner, winning 42 seats compared to Congress's modest six. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which has never ruled Jammu and Kashmir independently, finished with 29 seats—four more than in 2014 but still short of expectations. Former Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti's People’s Democratic Party (PDP), previously allied with the BJP, was anticipated to play a pivotal role but ultimately won just three seats, significantly fewer than in the last election.

The 2024 elections also marked a notable achievement for the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), which claimed the Doda seat thanks to Mehraj Malik. In contrast, AAP faced setbacks in Haryana, Arvind Kejriwal's home state. The Jammu and Kashmir People’s Conference also secured a win, with Sajjad Lone retaining his seat. Seven seats went to independent candidates, continuing the trend of around 10 percent of lawmakers being non-aligned.

In terms of vote share, the BJP emerged as a significant player, claiming 25.63 percent of the votes—2.65 percent more than in 2014. The NC followed with 23.44 percent, while Congress garnered 11.97 percent, a drop of six percent from the last election. The PDP received 8.87 percent of the votes, down 13.8 percent from its previous performance.

The NC fielded candidates in 56 seats, winning 42, while party leader Omar Abdullah, who won from Budgam and Ganderbal, has been designated as the next Chief Minister. In contrast, Congress's dismal performance—winning just six of 39 contested seats—reflects a substantial decline from its previous election results.

Overall, the NC-Congress alliance's victory marks a significant shift in Jammu and Kashmir's political landscape, reflecting a collective voter sentiment against the ruling powers.