Srinagar:The long-awaited Jammu and Kashmir Assembly elections have come to a close on Tuesday, with the National Conference (NC), led by Dr. Farooq Abdullah, emerging as the dominant force by securing 42 of the 90 seats in the Legislative Assembly.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) followed with 29 seats, while the Indian National Congress (INC) won six. Mehbooba Mufti's Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) secured three seats, Sajad Lone's Peoples Conference (PC) and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) each won one seat, and seven independents claimed the remaining constituencies. For the first time ever, the AAP has made its mark in Jammu and Kashmir by winning a seat.
According to the Election Commission of India (ECI), the INDIA bloc—a coalition of the NC, Congress, and CPI(M)—has comfortably surpassed the majority mark of 46 seats, collectively securing 49 seats. This outcome paves the way for a coalition government led by the NC, solidifying its political stronghold in the region.
Dr. Farooq Abdullah confirmed that his son, Omar Abdullah, will assume the position of Chief Minister. "The people have spoken, and Omar will lead this new government to address the challenges ahead," said Dr. Abdullah after the results were announced.
Omar Abdullah, the former Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir and current vice president of the National Conference, has made a notable comeback in this year's Assembly elections. Securing a comfortable victory from both Budgam and Ganderbal in central Kashmir, Omar has solidified his influence in the region. This success comes on the heels of his recent, albeit unsuccessful, attempt to win the Baramulla seat in the Lok Sabha elections.
This victory marks the first legislative elections in Jammu and Kashmir since the region's special status was revoked on August 5, 2019.
Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister and PDP President Mehbooba Mufti emphasized the integrity of the election process, reassuring the public that the people's mandate had been respected. "There is no room for interference with the election results," she stated during a press conference in Srinagar. Addressing her party's limited success in the elections, Mehbooba remarked that both victory and defeat are part of the political process and reaffirmed the PDP’s role as a vital opposition force.
Mehbooba also extended her congratulations to the NC on their victory, underscoring the need for a stable government to address the post-2019 challenges faced by the region.
Peoples Conference leader Sajad Lone expressed satisfaction with the outcome, particularly with his victory in his home constituency of Handwara. In a tweet, he thanked his voters, writing, "My gratitude and thanks to the people of Handwara. I will always be there to serve you. I can never repay this debt."
Meanwhile, Altaf Bukhari's Apni Party faced a significant setback, failing to win a single seat. Despite the defeat, Bukhari graciously acknowledged the outcome and took to Twitter to congratulate Mushtaq Guroo, who won in the Chanapora constituency. "I humbly respect the public verdict," Bukhari tweeted, expressing his thanks to his supporters and those who did not vote for him alike.
This election, the first since the region's statehood was revoked, marks a new chapter in Jammu and Kashmir's political history as the NC-led coalition prepares to govern amid ongoing regional challenges.
In North Kashmir, Uri constituency saw NC's Sajjad Shafi secure 39,713 votes, defeating former minister Taj Mohiud Din, who ran as an independent candidate, by a notable margin of 14,469 votes. Mohiud Din garnered only 25,244 votes. In Karnah, NC's Javaid Ahmad Mirchal won with 14,294 votes, overcoming People's Conference (PC) candidate Naseer Ahmad Awan, who secured 8,032 votes, by 6,262 votes. Trehgam followed suit with NC's Saifullah Mir triumphing over PC's Bashir Ahmad Dar, obtaining 18,002 votes while Dar received 14,376 votes, a margin of 3,626 votes.
Lolab constituency witnessed NC's Qaysar Jamshaied Lone defeating independent candidate Dawood Bashir Bhat with a margin of 7,871 votes, securing 19,603 votes compared to Bhat's 11,732. Sopore was another stronghold for the NC, where Irshad Rasool Kar achieved victory against independent candidate Mursaleen Aajir, winning 26,975 votes and a margin of 6,619. Rafiabad saw NC's Javid Ahmad Dar defeat Apni Party's Yawar Ahmad Mir, with Dar claiming 28,783 votes and a margin of 9,202 votes.
Baramulla also remained loyal to the NC, with Javid Hassan Baig winning against independent Shoaib Nabi Lone by 11,773 votes, securing 22,523 votes. In Gulmarg, NC's Pirzada Farooq Ahmed Shah won against Apni Party's Ghulam Hassan Mir by 4,191 votes, receiving 26,984 votes. Pattan was closely contested, with NC's Javaid Riyaz edging out PC's Imran Raza Ansari by just 603 votes, accumulating 29,893 votes.
Sonawari's results showed NC's Hilal Akbar Lone defeating independent Yasir Reshi with a significant margin of 13,744 votes, securing 31,535 votes. In Gurez, Nazir Ahmad Khan of the NC narrowly won against BJP's Faqeer Mohammad Khan by 1,132 votes, securing 8,378 votes. Wagoora - Kreeri saw INC's Irfan Hafiz Lone emerge victorious over PDP's Syed Basharat Ahmed Bukhari by 7,751 votes, with Lone achieving 17,002 votes.
Bandipora's INC candidate Nizam Uddin Bhat won against independent Usman Abdul Majid by 811 votes, receiving 20,391 votes. Kupwara saw PDP's Mir Mohammad Fayaz defeating NC's Nasir Aslam Wani by 9,797 votes, garnering 27,773 votes. In Handwara, PC's Sajad Gani Lone overcame NC's Chowdry Mohammad Ramzan by a slim margin of 662 votes, securing 29,812 votes.
Langate's independent candidate Khursheed Ahmad Sheikh, backed by Er Rashid, defeated PC's Irfan Sultan Pandithpuri by 1,602 votes, obtaining 25,984 votes.
Central Kashmir showcased a similar trend, with NC's Mian Mehar Ali defeating PDP's Syed Jamat Ali Shah in Kangan (ST) by 3,819 votes, accumulating 28,907 votes. Ganderbal's Omar Abdullah also emerged victorious over PDP's Bashir Ahmad Mir, winning by 10,574 votes with a total of 32,727 votes. Hazratbal saw NC's Salman Sagar defeating PDP's Asiea Naqash by 10,295 votes, securing 18,890 votes.
In Khanyar, NC's Ali Mohammad Sagar won against independent Sheikh Imran with a margin of 9,912 votes, obtaining 14,906 votes. Habba Kadal's results saw NC's Shamim Firdous triumph over BJP's Ashok Kumar Bhat with a margin of 9,538 votes, securing 12,437 votes. Lal Chowk had NC's Sheikh Ahsan Ahmed defeating Apni Party's Mohammad Ashraf Mir by 11,343 votes, gathering 16,731 votes.
Channapora had NC's Mushtaq Guru winning against Apni Party's Altaf Bukhari by 5,688 votes, with 13,717 votes. Zadibal witnessed NC's Tanvir Sadiq defeating PC's Abid Hussain Ansari by 16,173 votes, achieving 22,189 votes. In Eidgah, NC's Mubarik Gul won against independent Ghulam Nabi Bhat by 1,680 votes, securing 7,700 votes.
Budgam saw Omar Abdullah defeating PDP's Aga Syed Muntazir Mehdi by a massive margin of 18,485 votes, with a total of 36,010 votes. Beerwah had NC's Shafi Ahmad Wani defeating independent Nazir Ahmad Khan by 4,161 votes, securing 20,118 votes. Khan Sahib saw NC's Saif ud Din Bhat overcome PDFS's Hakeem Yaseen by 11,614 votes, with 33,225 votes.
Chrar-i-Sharief had NC's Abdul Rahim Rather defeating PDP's Ghulam Nabi Lone by 11,496 votes, securing 35,957 votes. Chadoora saw NC's Ali Mohammad Dar triumph over PDP's Mohammad Yaseen Bhat by 17,218 votes, gathering 31,991 votes. Central Shalteng concluded the central region's results with INC's Tariq Hameed Karra defeating independent Muhammad Irfan Shah by 14,395 votes, achieving 18,933 votes.
In South Kashmir, NC's Hasnain Masoodi secured a victory in Pampore against PDP's Zahoor Ahmad Mir by 2,763 votes, totaling 15,088 votes. Rajpora's results reflected NC's Ghulam Mohi Uddin Mir defeating PSP's Syed Bashir Ahmad by 14,313 votes, accumulating 25,627 votes. Zainapora had NC's Showkat Hussain Ganie win against independent Aijaz Ahmad Mir by 13,233 votes, with 28,251 votes.
DH Pora saw NC's Sakeen Masood achieve a significant victory over PDP's Gulzar Ahmad Dar by 17,449 votes, securing 36,623 votes. In Devsar, NC's Peerzada Feroze Ahamad narrowly defeated PDP's Sartaj Madni by 840 votes, totaling 18,230 votes. Kokernag (ST) had NC's Zafar Ali Khatana defeat PDP's Haroon Rashid Khatana by 6,162 votes, securing 17,949 votes. Anantnag West concluded with NC's Abdul Majeed Bhat winning against PDP's Abdul Gaffar Sofi by 10,435 votes, garnering 25,135 votes.
Srigufwara-Bijbehara saw NC's Bashir Ahamad Shah Veeri defeating PDP's Iltija Mehbooba Mufti by 9,770 votes, accumulating 33,299 votes. Shangus-Anantnag East concluded the region's results with NC's Reyaz Ahmad Khan defeating PDP's Abdul Rehman Bhat by 14,532 votes, securing 30,345 votes.
Pahalgam had NC's Altaf Ahmad Wani winning against Apni Party's Rafi Ahmed Mir by 13,756 votes, achieving 26,210 votes. Dooru marked a significant victory for INC's Ghulam Ahmad Mir, who secured 44,270 votes against PDP's Mohammad Ashraf Malik by a margin of 29,728 votes. Anantnag had INC's Peerzada Mohammad Syed narrowly defeating PDP's Mehboob Beg by 1,686 votes, totaling 6,679 votes.
Tral saw PDP's Rafiq Ahmad Naik overcoming INC's Surinder Singh by a mere 460 votes, garnering 10,710 votes. Pulwama reflected PDP's Waheed Ur Rehman Para winning against NC's Khalil Band by 8,148 votes, with a total of 24,716 votes. Kulgam had CPIM's MY Tarigami defeating independent Sayar Ahmad Reshi by 7,838 votes, securing 33,634 votes.