The People’s Alliance Declaration for Gupkar has won more than 100 seats.
Srinagar:
The Gupkar alliance led by Farooq Abdullah has won big in the first local elections in Jammu and Kashmir since it lost special status last year and became a Union Territory. In the first polls of the District Development Council (DDC) in 20 districts of J&K, the seven-party alliance, along with Congress, won 13 districts. The BJP has won in six districts of Jammu.
The Popular Alliance Statement for Gupkar, a J&K-based grouping of major parties that includes rivals Farooq Abdullah’s National Conference and Mehbooba Mufti’s People’s Democratic Party (PDP), has won more than 100 seats; the BJP has become the largest party with 74 seats. Congress has won 26 seats.
The vote was carried out in 280 seats, 14 in each of the 20 districts of the union territory. Results have been declared for all but two seats.
Unsurprisingly, the alliance scored in Kashmir while the BJP won the majority of seats in Jammu.
In Kashmir, the alliance led by Farooq Abdullah won 72 seats, the BJP only three seats. While the Alliance is shaping its government in 9 district councils, the Srinagar district still remains undecided as independents are leading in the district and it is unclear which way they will take.
In Jammu province, the BJP won 71 seats, scoring in Jammu, Udhampur, Samba, Kathua, Reasi and Doda. The National Conference and Congress have won 45 seats, ensuring a victory in Poonch, Rajouri, Kishtwar and Ramban districts.
The National Conference and the PDP alleged that many of their leaders had been detained prior to the results.
PPD leader Waheed Parra, arrested by the National Investigative Agency (NIA) in a terrorist financing case, beat Pulwama.
The BJP, after winning for the first time in Kashmir, called it a “wave of change” in the Valley. Three of his candidates won their seats against the National Conference and the PDP.
BJP Leader and Union Minister Jitendra Singh said: “Three BJP candidates have won in Srinagar. It is a testament to the fact that the people of Jammu and Kashmir believe in Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision for development. of the Territory of the Union “.
But Omar Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti said the results made it clear that the people of Jammu and Kashmir had rejected the Center’s decision to end Jammu and Kashmir’s special status under Article 370 in August last year.
“I understand the temptation to exaggerate the three seats that the BJP has won in the valley, but why underestimate the 35 wins / advantages of the (Gupkar alliance) in Jammu province,” Omar Abdullah tweeted.
“The J&K people have given their decision on what they think about 2019. They do not support it. They have overwhelmingly rejected BJP’s propaganda,” the National Conference leader told NDTV.
The alliance said it had fought against many odds. Its leaders hardly campaigned for the polls. They alleged that their candidates were not allowed to campaign and were confined to security compounds. The National Conference and the PDP also alleged that many of their leaders had been detained prior to the results.
Farooq Abdullah is also fighting the Enforcement Directorate investigations into money laundering allegations linked to the Jammu and Kashmir Cricket Association. His properties, including two houses in Srinagar and Jammu, were recently attached by investigators.
The Gupkar Alliance was formed to fight for the restoration of Jammu and Kashmir’s special status. Many of its leaders, including Farooq Abdullah, Omar Abdullah, Mehbooba Mufti and others, were detained shortly after the changes as part of the center’s unprecedented security crackdown in J&K. The Abdullahs were released in March, while Mehbooba Mufti was released after more than a year in October.
When the elections were announced, the Gupkar alliance announced that it would present joint candidates and even issued a list of “unanimous” options for the first rounds of voting. The unit was short-lived due to the dispute over seat sharing. The allies ended up fighting each other by putting up substitute candidates. In some seats, parties openly presented candidates to each other.
The district councils are intended to drive development through direct funding from the Center. The DDCs, in the absence of an assembly, will be the link between the people and the government in Jammu and Kashmir and each council chairman will enjoy the status of a junior minister.
.
