The political landscape of Jammu and Kashmir is undergoing a significant shift as the National Conference (NC) and Indian National Congress (INC) prepare to form a coalition government following the elections. The NC made substantial gains in the Kashmir Valley, while the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) maintained its dominance in Jammu.
Electoral Breakdown
In the elections, the NC secured a total of 30 seats, establishing itself as the dominant force in the region. Here’s a breakdown of the results:
- Srinagar (8 Seats): NC won all 8 seats, including key constituencies such as Lal Chowk (Ahsan Pardeshi) and Hazratbal (Salman Ali Sagar).
- Budgam (5 Seats): NC won all 5 seats, with notable victories for Omar Abdullah in Budgam and Dr. Shafi Wani in Beerwah.
- Ganderbal (2 Seats): NC secured both seats, including Ganderbal (Omar Abdullah) and Kangan (Mian Mehar Ali).
- Baramulla (7 Seats): NC claimed 5 seats, with the INC winning 1 seat (Wagoora-Kreeri), showcasing a competitive environment.
- Bandipora (3 Seats): The INC won 1 seat (Nizamuddin Bhat), while NC captured 2.
- Kupwara (6 Seats): PDP secured 1 seat (Kupwara), while NC claimed 5.
- Anantnag (7 Seats): INC won 2 seats, while NC claimed 5, including Anantnag West (Abdul Majeed Larmi).
- Kulgam (3 Seats): CPI(M) secured 1 seat, while NC won 2.
- Pulwama (4 Seats): PDP secured 2 seats, while NC won 2.
- Shopian (2 Seats): NC won 1 seat, with an independent candidate winning the other.
In contrast, the BJP secured a total of 11 seats in the Jammu region, maintaining a stronghold:
- Jammu District (11 Seats): The BJP swept all seats, including Jammu North (Sham Lal Sharma) and Jammu East (Yudvir Sethi).
- Samba (3 Seats): BJP won all seats, including Samba (Surjit Singh Slathia).
- Kishtwar (3 Seats): BJP claimed 2 seats, with an independent candidate winning 1.
- Doda (3 Seats): AAP won 1 seat, while BJP claimed 2.
- Ramban (2 Seats): NC secured both seats.
- Reasi (3 Seats): BJP won 2 seats, with NC winning 1.
- Udhampur (4 Seats): BJP swept all 4 seats.
- Kathua (6 Seats): BJP won 5 seats, with an independent candidate winning 1.
- Rajouri (5 Seats): INC secured 1 seat, while NC won 2, and BJP won 1 seat.
The NC and INC alliance aims to leverage their collective strength to counter the BJP’s influence in Jammu. By collaborating, they hope to create a governance model that addresses pressing regional issues, including economic development, social welfare, and political stability.