NC-Congress Alliance Secures 48 Seats, NC Wins 42, Congress 6

NC-Congress Alliance Secures 48 Seats, NC Wins 42, Congress 6

Asif Iqbal | October 8, 2024 | 08:37 PM IST | Elections 2024, Jammu Kashmir, Politics | Follow on Google News

NC-Congress Alliance Secures 48 Seats, NC Wins 42, Congress 6

NC-Congress Alliance Secures 48 Seats, NC Wins 42, Congress 6

In the first assembly elections held in Jammu and Kashmir after the abrogation of Article 370, the National Conference (NC)-Congress alliance broke a three-decade-long political trend by securing a significant majority. The alliance won 48 out of 90 seats in the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly, crossing the majority mark of 46.

The NC, led by veteran politician Farooq Abdullah, won 42 seats. This included 35 seats from Kashmir province and seven from Jammu. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) maintained its dominance in Jammu province, securing 29 constituencies but failing to win any seats in Kashmir. BJP candidates briefly contested in Shopian and Graz constituencies but could not secure victories. Notably, BJP’s Jammu and Kashmir President Ravinder Raina suffered a heavy defeat in the Nowshera seat, a major blow to the party’s position.

The NC fielded candidates in 40 seats across the Kashmir Valley. Its Vice President, Omar Abdullah, secured victories in both his constituencies, Budgam and Ganderbal. Following the results, NC President Farooq Abdullah stated that the people of Jammu and Kashmir had rejected the central government’s unilateral decisions. He further announced that Omar Abdullah would be the Chief Minister of the coalition government.

The Congress, however, did not perform well, winning only six seats. Five of these were from Kashmir province, while in Jammu, the party managed to win just the Rajouri seat. In comparison, during the 2014 assembly elections, Congress had won five seats in Jammu alone.

The dominance of the NC was particularly evident in Kashmir province. In Srinagar district, the NC won seven out of eight seats. Prominent figures like NC President Altaf Bukhari and former mayor Junaid Azim Mattu faced defeat in the district. In Kupwara, the NC made history by winning three out of five seats, though one of its senior leaders, Nasir Aslam Wani, was defeated by PDP’s Fayyaz Mir.

In the northern district of Baramulla, the NC won six out of seven seats, defeating notable politicians such as former Deputy Chief Minister Muzaffar Baig and former ministers Basharat Bukhari, Taj Mohiuddin, Ghulam Hasan Mir, and Imran Raza Ansari. Additionally, Khursheed Sheikh, brother of Member of Parliament Engineer Rasheed, won the Langat seat, while People’s Conference chief Sajjad Lone emerged victorious in Handwara.

South Kashmir, a traditional stronghold of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), saw a significant shift. Out of the 16 seats in the region, the NC secured 10. Major PDP candidates, including the daughter of PDP President Mehbooba Mufti, Iltija Mufti, and prominent figures Abdul Rahman Veeri, Sartaj Madani, and Mehboob Baig, faced defeat. The PDP, which had been the single largest party in the 2014 assembly elections and formed a coalition government with the BJP, suffered heavy losses this time.

In Jammu province, the BJP performed better, winning 29 seats. However, senior Congress leaders such as Raman Bhalla and Chaudhary Lal Singh were among those who lost their seats in the region.

Asif Iqbal

Asif Iqbal is a seasoned news writer with a passion for delivering the latest updates to the public. Currently serving as the senior writer at VoM News, a prominent news outlet known for its comprehensive coverage of diverse topics, Asif has established himself as a reliable source of information. With a keen eye for detail and a knack for storytelling, he consistently provides readers with well-crafted articles that cover a wide range of news categories. His dedication to journalistic integrity and his commitment to staying ahead of the news curve make him an invaluable asset to Vom News, ensuring that readers are always well-informed on the issues that matter most. You can find his work and stay updated on current events by visiting vomnews.in.