In the first assembly elections since the abrogation of Article 370, Jammu and Kashmir has voted for a new government, with the National Conference (NC) and Congress alliance getting people’s mandate to form the next government in the Union Territory. With 48 of the 90 seats secured, the alliance swept J&K, while the BJP won 29 seats and the PDP secured victory on three. The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) celebrated its first-ever electoral victory in the Union Territory, with Mehraj Malik winning Doda seat.
NC leader Omar Abdullah, who triumphed in Budgam and Ganderbal constituencies, took a jab at the BJP, saying, “Those who sought to destroy us were decimated instead.” He urged patience regarding government formation, indicating that the final results were still unfolding.
The possibility of a hung assembly as per the exit polls, led to concerns that the five Lieutenant Governor-nominated MLAs could influence the formation of the government. While the BJP performed strongly in the Jammu region, it struggled to find ground in the Kashmir Valley, where its promises of development and peace under the ‘Naya Kashmir’ initiative failed to resonate with voters.
Of the 90 assembly seats, 63.88 percent of the electorate voted, with 1.48 percent choosing the NOTA option. Despite the BJP’s efforts, the National Conference-Congress alliance’s success reflects voters’ dissatisfaction with the removal of Article 370.
NC president Farooq Abdullah confirmed that Omar Abdullah would be the next chief minister, calling the election results a rejection of the decisions made on August 5, 2019, which revoked the special status of Jammu and Kashmir.