SRINAGAR, OCTOBER 9: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha has expressed his gratitude to the people of Jammu Kashmir and lauded the efforts of election officials, J&K Police and Security Forces for peaceful, transparent, free and fair Assembly Elections in J&K.
In a social media post, the Lieutenant Governor extended his heartiest congratulations to all the members elected to the Legislative Assembly and NC-led alliance for victory in polls.
The Lieutenant Governor posted on X: “I thank the people for empowering & strengthening democracy in UT of J&K. I laud the efforts of CEO J&K, EC officials, JKP and security forces for working tirelessly and diligently to uphold the sanctity of the ballot and successfully completing transparent, free & fair election.
My heartiest congratulations to all the members elected to the Legislative Assembly and NC-led alliance for victory in polls. Best wishes to them in the service of people. The Constitution of India is our guiding light and I urge all to work together for the growth of J&K and the welfare of the people.
The peaceful electoral process and participation of millions of voters are testimony to a vibrant democracy and people’s faith in the democratic values of the country. Today, J&K stands taller guided by principles of good governance, people-first, social justice, and social harmony”.
National Conference – Congress alliance on Tuesday won the Jammu and Kashmir election – the first in the former state in a decade – defying exit poll predictions of a hung Assembly.
The alliance claimed 49 of the union territory’s 90 elected legislature seats. It is the NC that has emerged, by a country mile, as the majority partner with 42 wins to the Congress’ dismal six. The NC turned in a strong showing across the Kashmir region’s 47 seats.
The BJP – which has never ruled J&K on its own – finished with 29 seats, with most of that coming from the Jammu region. This is four more than it claimed in 2014 but fewer than it was expecting.
Ex-Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti’s PDP – which allied with the BJP after the 2014 election to form the last elected J&K government – was seen as a possible kingmaker this time. Exit polls gave it four to 12 seats – enough to break the predicted stalemate in favor of the Congress-NC combine.
However (and exit polls are often wrong), as it turned out Ms Mufti’s support was not needed.
In any case, the PDP won just three seats, 25 fewer than in the last election.
The 2024 J&K election also saw a big ‘first’ for the Aam Aadmi Party of Arvind Kejriwal, which claimed the Doda seat thanks to Mehraj Malik. The AAP was thumped in Haryana, Mr Kejriwal’s home state.
The Jammu and Kashmir’s People’s Conference also scored a win – Sajjad Lone retained his seat.
The remaining seven seats were claimed by independent candidates, continuing a trend of J&K voters ensuring that around 10 percent of their lawmakers are, officially at least, non-aligned.
