Updated: December 23, 2020 7:27:44 am
Manzoor Ahmad, a candidate from the People’s Alliance for the Gupkar Declaration, celebrates his victory from a DDC constituency in Srinagar on Tuesday. (Shuaib Masoodi)
The People’s Alliance Declaration for Gupkar has won or is leading in more than 100 seats out of the total 280 in the District Development Councils (DDC) in the first elections held in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir after of the abrogation of the old state. special status in August 2019.
Even as the votes are still being counted, it is clear that the Bharatiya Janata Party is emerging as the largest party with wins and leads in 75 DDC seats. It is sweeping the Hindu-dominated districts – Jammu, Udhampur, Kathua and Samba – in the Jammu Division, leading 49 out of 56 DDC seats.
The survey results mean that the BJP has secured control of at least six District Development Councils (DDC) in Jammu and none in Kashmir. The People’s Alliance has a majority in nine DDCs, all in the Valley. As there is no clear majority in all five councils, independent candidates are likely to play the role of king makers.
Salman Ali Sagar shows a sign of victory after securing his victory in Srinagar (Express photo by Shuaib Masoodi)
Both the BJP and the People’s Alliance have rated the survey results as its success. While the BJP has described the result and voter participation as a contradiction to the “idea of the Gupkar Alliance”, the People’s Alliance has said that the people have rejected the “unconstitutional decision to repeal Article 370”.
“The overwhelming turnout of the people is a clear sign that they believe in democratic procedure rather than bullets and grenades,” said Syed Shahnawaz Hussain, BJP’s pick for the Valley. “Peaceful, free and fair elections with record turnout contradicts the idea of the Gupkar Alliance,” he said.
Former chief minister and vice president of the People’s Alliance, Mehbooba Mufti, called it a “hard-won victory.” “Today’s DDC results have made it clear that the people of J&K voted en masse for @JKPAGD thereby rejecting the unconstitutional decision to repeal Article 370. They have overwhelmingly supported @JKPAGD, which represents the restoration of J & K’s special status.” Mufti tweeted. “Our victory is dedicated to the PAGD cadres who worked tirelessly to ensure our success. The GOI left no stone unturned to create obstacles for us. Starting with the arrest of @parawahid the day after he submitted his nominations to the DDC, restricting our movement and not allowing us to campaign, ”he said in his tweet.
Jammu: The vote count for the recently concluded District Development Council elections at a center in Jammu (PTI)
Omar Abdullah, vice president of the J&K National Conference, which leads 68 seats, said: “The trends that have emerged in the DDC polls at J&K are very encouraging for @JKPAGD. The BJP had made this election a prestigious issue on the special status of Art 370 & J&K. The people have now spoken and it is for those who believe in democracy to pay attention to these voices ”.
The BJP is also becoming a dominant force in the Muslim-dominated regions of the Jammu division of Chenab and Pir Panjal. Significantly, he also opened his account in the Valley with three victories, one in the south (Kakapora in Pulwama), one in the north (Tulail in Gurez, Bandipore) and in central Kashmir (Khonmoh in Srinagar).
Independent candidates led in about 50 seats, which political sources attributed to the good management at the cabin level of the BJP. Once again, the Congress party has failed to make a mark in the DDC polls. It is ahead by only nine seats in the Valley and 17 seats in Jammu.
The final count is expected after midnight.
In a polarized Jammu and Kashmir, the National Conference led by Farooq Abdullah has become the only political party that has garnered significant support in the Kashmir and Jammu divisions of the Union Territory. However, the results are a major setback for the center-backed Apni Party of Jammu and Kashmir, led by Altaf Bukhari. The party has only won 10 seats.
Manzoor Ahmad receives a garland from his followers in Srinagar. (Express photo by Shuaib Masoodi)
Official figures reveal that the People’s Alliance, formed by the main political parties to seek the restoration of Jammu and Kashmir’s special status, has won or is leading in 112 seats. Of these, the National Conference candidates have won or are ahead of their rivals by 68 seats. Candidates belonging to the People’s Democratic Party led by Mehbooba Mufti are ahead by 28 seats.
The Kashmir Division, however, has stood firmly behind the People’s Alliance giving it the lead in at least 85 DDC seats. Of these, the National Conference has won or is leading in 42 seats and the PDP in 27 seats. The Sajad Lone People’s Conference is ahead by eight seats and the CPI (M) by five.
Overall, the National Conference leads with 68 seats: 42 in Kashmir and 26 in Jammu. It has emerged as the only party to have achieved considerable election success in both regions of the Union Territory. In fact, it has given the BJP a tougher fight than the Congress in the Hindu heart of Jammu.
Independent candidates have shone in the polls leading in around 50 seats, 32 in Kashmir and 17 in Jammu. Surprisingly, a large number were in the fray in the Kashmir Valley, which according to PAGD sources, served to divide the voting share of the alliance partners.
On Tuesday night, the Electoral Commission declared the final results for 241 of the 280 seats. Of these, the BJP won 68 seats, the National Conference 55, the PDP 26, the 21 Congress and the Apni Party 10. Independent candidates were declared winners in 43 DDC seats.
With ARUN SHARMA tickets at JAMMU
.
