National Conference (NC) Vice President Omar Abdullah is set to return as the Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir after the NC’s strong showing in the Assembly elections. This marks the first elections in J&K after a decade, and Omar Abdullah’s party emerged victorious on 42 of the 51 seats it contested.

The NC’s coalition ally, Congress, secured six seats out of the 32 it contested. The NC claimed 35 seats in Kashmir and seven in the Jammu region, for a total of 42 seats—the highest tally since their 1996 landslide victory, where they secured 57 seats.

The BJP registered its best-ever performance in Jammu and Kashmir, winning 29 seats. However, all the victories came from Jammu division, with the party failing to secure a single seat in Kashmir.

The PDP, which had shown strong results in previous elections, performed poorly, securing only three seats, all from the Kashmir Valley. This is the PDP’s worst performance, having won 16 seats in 2002, 21 in 2008, and 28 in 2014.

The Jammu and Kashmir Apni Party (JKAP) failed to win any seats, while the People’s Conference secured just one seat.

Shagun Parihar of the BJP made history by becoming the alone woman to secure a seat in the Assembly, emerging as a prominent figure in a male-dominated race. Meanwhile, female candidates from both the National Conference and Congress were unable to make their way into the Assembly.

The AAP managed to win one seat, marking its entry into the political landscape of J&K.

With Omar Abdullah expected to assume the role of Chief Minister, the political landscape in Jammu and Kashmir has shifted back to the National Conference, which last held power a decade ago.

As the dust settles, many prominent former ministers and legislators have lost their seats, paving the way for fresh faces in the Assembly.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) achieved a remarkable feat in the Jammu division by winning all seven seats reserved for Scheduled Castes (SCs) in the recent Assembly elections. However, the party faced a significant setback, losing all six seats reserved for Scheduled Tribes (STs), which raises questions about its electoral strategy regarding these communities.

The BJP’s success in the SC seats was marked by substantial margins. Key victories included Mohan Lal Bhagat in Akhnoor, who won by approximately 24,000 votes against Congress’s Ashok Kumar, and Surinder Kumar, who triumphed in Marh, defeating former Minister Mula Ram by around 23,000 votes. Other notable winners included Dr. Bharat Bushan in Kathua, Dr. Devender Manyal in Ramgarh, and Sunil Bhardwaj in Ramnagar, all securing their seats by comfortable margins.

In contrast, the BJP’s performance in the ST reserved seats was dismal. The party lost all six of these seats in the Jammu division, which included Rajouri, Thannamandi, Budhal, Mendhar, Poonch, and Gulabgarh. Congress candidates won the Rajouri seat, while Thannamandi went to an Independent. The National Conference (NC) secured victories in the remaining four ST constituencies.

The results highlight a disconnect between the BJP’s policies and their electoral outcomes, particularly regarding the reservations created for STs and the recent 10% reservation for Paharis. Despite the government’s efforts to support these communities, the party’s inability to secure seats in areas with significant Pahari populations, such as Rajouri and Poonch, where it managed to win only one out of eight seats, indicates potential challenges ahead.

Moreover, the BJP successfully captured five out of six newly created seats in the Jammu division following delimitation, including key constituencies like Paddar, Doda West, Udhampur East, and Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra, though it did lose Thannamandi.

The party’s success in prominent religious constituencies further demonstrates its stronghold in areas with significant shrines, winning all five seats associated with major pilgrimage sites, such as Katra (Shri Mata Vaishno Devi) and Reasi (Shiv Khori).

As the BJP reflects on its performance, the contrast between its success in SC reservations and failures in ST seats underscores the need for a reevaluation of its engagement strategies with diverse communities in the Jammu division. The party’s focus on religious sentiments appears effective, but the lack of resonance with ST voters may necessitate a strategic pivot to maintain its political dominance in the region.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi hailed the successful conduct of Jammu and Kashmir’s first Assembly elections since the abrogation of Article 370 as a triumph of Indian democracy and the Constitution. Addressing party workers at the BJP headquarters in New Delhi, Modi emphasized the significance of these elections, stating they were a historic milestone in implementing Dr. Bhim Rao Ambedkar’s Constitution fully in J&K, granting voting rights to many previously deprived.

The Prime Minister credited his government for bringing Jammu and Kashmir out of an era of curfews and separatism by integrating the region into the national mainstream. “Abrogation of Article 370 has opened a new chapter of growth and development in J&K,” Modi said, adding that the region has now fully embraced democracy with public representatives in place for the first time across all levels of governance.

Modi congratulated the BJP for its best-ever electoral performance in J&K, where the party emerged with the highest vote share despite the National Conference (NC) securing more seats alongside its ally. He expressed pride in BJP workers for their dedication and hard work.

High Voter Turnout: A Testament to Faith in Democracy

In a series of posts on social media platform X, the Prime Minister lauded the people of Jammu and Kashmir for their active participation, calling it a reflection of their faith in democracy. “These elections have shown the people’s belief in democracy and their will to shape their future,” Modi wrote. He assured that the BJP will continue to work for the welfare of the people in the Union Territory.

Amit Shah Hails Transparent and Peaceful Elections

Union Home Minister Amit Shah also praised the conduct of the elections, calling it a revival of democracy in the region. He highlighted that, for the first time since the onset of terrorism in the 1980s, people participated in elections without fear, making this one of the most transparent and peaceful polls in J&K’s recent history.

Shah recalled the 1987 elections, which were marred by allegations of rigging under Congress rule, contrasting it with the current elections under BJP governance. He thanked the Election Commission, J&K administration, and security forces for ensuring the successful completion of the elections.

“Under Prime Minister Modi’s leadership, the BJP has been blessed with the highest percentage of votes and its best performance yet in Jammu and Kashmir,” Shah said, adding that the party remains committed to the region’s development and security.

BJP Performance Praised Amid Calls for Future Growth

While congratulating the National Conference for its strong showing in the elections, the Prime Minister made it clear that the BJP’s commitment to J&K remains unwavering. The party is now focused on further strengthening its initiatives to propel India toward becoming the world’s third-largest economy and a global skill capital.

The elections mark the beginning of a new chapter for J&K, where the people have, through peaceful participation, chosen democracy over separatism, and development over stagnation.

Jammu and Kashmir is set to witness a significant political shift as the counting of votes for the Assembly elections in all 20 districts begins today at 7 AM. By evening, if all goes as planned, the results of all 90 constituencies will be announced. This will mark the first time since June 2018 that Jammu and Kashmir will have a fully elected Legislative Assembly.

A total of 873 candidates contested in these elections, with approximately 40% of them running as Independents. The remaining candidates were fielded by major political parties such as the BJP, National Conference (NC), Congress, PDP, Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), Jammu and Kashmir Apni Party, People’s Conference, Awami Itehad Party (AIP), Panthers Party, and others.

This election is historic as it is the first assembly election after the bifurcation of Jammu and Kashmir into two Union Territories—Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh—in 2019, following the abrogation of Article 370. The last time J&K had an elected government was under Mehbooba Mufti, whose PDP-BJP coalition government collapsed in June 2018 after BJP withdrew its support.

BJP Forms Election Monitoring Team

The BJP has formed a five-member team to monitor the election trends and political situation. The group includes senior leaders like BJP Election Incharge Ram Madhav, Tarun Chugh, party general secretary Incharge J&K Ashok Koul, Sunil Sharma (former Minister), and Devender Singh Rana. They will be camping in Srinagar today before proceeding to Jammu.

Key Contestants and Tight Security

Many prominent figures, including former ministers, legislators, and government officials, are in the fray, especially in the Jammu division’s 43 seats. To ensure the counting process is smooth and transparent, Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) PK Pole confirmed that CCTVs have been installed in every counting hall. Counting will begin with postal ballots at 7:30 AM, followed by the Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) at 8 AM.

“Elections were conducted peacefully with significant public participation, and no political party faced any major hurdles,” said Pole. He added that 28 counting centres have been set up across Jammu and Kashmir, with two centres each in Kupwara, Samba, Jammu, Udhampur, and Reasi districts. Migrant votes will be counted at three separate centres.

Strict Security Measures in Place

Security has been tightened around all counting centres, with checkpoints established within a 100-meter radius. The opening of strong rooms, where EVMs are stored, will be done in the presence of candidates, their representatives, and Election Commission of India (ECI) observers. The process will also be videographed for transparency, and mobile phones will not be allowed inside the centres.

Local Deputy Commissioners have imposed restrictions around the counting centres to ensure smooth proceedings. Counting observers have been appointed to monitor the process, and officials are hopeful that all results will be declared by the evening.

Road Ahead for Government Formation

After the results are announced, political parties will initiate discussions for forming a new government. The majority mark for the 90-member Legislative Assembly is 48, as the five nominated MLAs by the Lieutenant Governor will also have voting rights, bringing the total strength of the House to 95.

The BJP contested 61 seats, including all 43 in the Jammu division, while the Congress-NC alliance fielded candidates on 31 and 52 seats respectively, along with friendly contests in five constituencies. Other parties, including the PDP and BSP, also fielded candidates in most constituencies.

In the 2014 Assembly elections, the PDP emerged as the largest party with 28 seats, followed by the BJP with 25, NC with 15, Congress with 12, and others securing the remaining seats. The political landscape has changed significantly since then, and all eyes are on today’s results to see who will form the next government in Jammu and Kashmir.