 and Congress alliance has secured a decisive victory in the Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) Assembly elections.){kind=link}
The National Conference (NC) and Congress alliance has secured a decisive victory in the Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) Assembly elections. The coalition won a majority of the seats, paving the way for the formation of the new government.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) managed to win 29 constituencies, surpassing its previous record of 25 seats in the 2014 elections. Despite this achievement, the NC-Congress alliance’s triumph is seen as a strong verdict against the BJP’s policies. Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge emphasized that the victory reflects the people’s rejection of the BJP’s “anti-people policies,” the violation of rights, and the misuse of constitutional institutions. He reiterated that restoring J&K’s statehood remains a top priority for the Congress.
“This mandate has been given by the people of Jammu and Kashmir against the anti-people policies of the BJP, violation and oppression of people’s rights and misuse of constitutional institutions” said the Congress chief in a post on X.
Omar Abdullah, having secured victories in the Budgam and Ganderbal constituencies, is poised to become the Chief Minister. His leadership is expected to steer the new government towards addressing the pressing issues faced by the region.
Setbacks for BJP
The BJP faced several setback in the Jammu & Kashmir assembly elections, including the defeat of its Union Territory president, Ravinder Raina, in the Nowshera constituency to the National Conference. The party also failed to secure any seats in Kashmir, with many candidates losing their seats. However, the party showed a strong front in Jammu. This indicates a lack of support for the BJP’s policies and candidates in the predominantly Muslim areas of Kashmir.
Additionally, the BJP’s efforts to gain a foothold in the Pir Panjal region of Rajouri and Poonch districts were unsuccessful, with prominent candidates like Choudhary Zulfikar Ali and Syed Mushtaq Bukhari losing by significant margins.
For the BJP, the elections were a crucial test of its policies post-Article 370 abrogation. NC-Congress alliance’s success reflects the public’s desire for a return to the pre-2019 status. The new government, led by Omar Abdullah, is expected to prioritize the restoration of statehood and address the grievances of the people. Meanwhile, the BJP will need to reassess its strategies and policies to better align with the aspirations of the J&K populace.
These elections were particularly significant as they marked the first Assembly polls since the BJP-led government’s controversial decision in 2019 to divide the former state into two Union Territories, J&K and Ladakh. The elections, with a voter turnout of 63.88%, signify a renewed public engagement in the democratic process.
During a press conference at the AICC headquarters in Delhi, General Secretary Jairam Ramesh and Media and Publicity Chief Pawan Khera announced that the coalition government’s foremost priority will be the restoration of statehood. They also mentioned that, in addition to the individual manifestos of the two parties, there will be a unified programme to provide a “responsible, responsive, accountable and transparent government”.
Manbilas Singh is a talented writer and journalist who focuses on the finer details in every story and values integrity above everything. A self-proclaimed sleuth, he strives to expose the fine print behind seemingly mundane activities and aims to uncover the truth that is hidden from the general public. In his time away from work, he is a music aficionado and a nerd who revels in video & board games, books and Formula 1.
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