Votes are being counted for 280 seats and the process may take longer than usual.
Highlights
- This is first election in J&K since its special status was scrapped
- Votes are being counted for 280 seats - 14 in each of the 20 districts
- Polling was held in eight phases over a period of 25 days
The Farooq Abdullah-led People's Alliance for Gupkar Declaration took a giant lead over the BJP on Tuesday as votes were counted in the first election in Jammu and Kashmir since it lost its special status and was turned into a Union Territory last year. In the first-ever District Development Council (DDC) polls in J&K, regional parties surged ahead in Kashmir while the BJP kept an upper hand in the Jammu region.
In the latest leads, the Gupkar alliance -- a grouping of seven mainstream J&K-based parties including the National Conference and Mehbooba Mufti's People's Democratic Party (PDP) - is ahead in 108 seats; the BJP is leading in 60 seats. The Congress is ahead in 22.
In Jammu Province, the BJP is ahead in 57 seats while the Gupkar alliance is winning in 37. In Kashmir, the regional grouping is leading in a mammoth 71 seats with the BJP far behind at three.
Votes are being counted for 280 seats - 14 in each of the 20 districts of the union territory - and the process may take longer than usual because ballot papers were used instead of electronic voting machines or EVMs. Polling held in eight phases over a period of 25 days ended on December 19.
The Gupkar Alliance, which was formed in protest against the massive constitutional changes -- in which Article 370 on special status to Jammu and Kashmir was abrogated and the state was turned into two union territories -- was largely missing during the campaign. Many of its leaders, like former Chief Ministers Farooq Abdullah, Omar Abdullah, Mehbooba Mufti and others were detained soon after the changes on August 5, as the centre imposed security restrictions to prevent protests. The Abdullahs were released in March while Mehbooba Mufti was freed after over a year in October.
The results of the election may be used as a sort of referendum by both political ideologies -- for and against the changes in Jammu and Kashmir. The district councils are meant to drive development through direct funding from the Centre. The DDCs, in absence of an assembly, will become an important link between the people and the government in Jammu and Kashmir and each council chairperson will enjoy the status of a junior minister.
"The verdict means a lot to us. It means more to us than what I can put into words. I think it should also mean something to BJP," Omar Abdullah told NDTV.
"The BJP has beaten every drum that people of J&K are very happy with what happened on August 5. Today, the people of J&K have given their decision on what they think about 2019. They do not support it. They have overwhelmingly rejected BJP's propaganda," said the National Conference leader.
Anurag Thakur, the BJP's in-charge for these polls, had earlier said he was confident of his party's win. "People want to see new a leadership take charge in J&K that will help resolve issues in their constituencies," he was quoted as saying by news agency ANI this morning.
"Even though people were threatened, they came out in huge numbers to cast their vote. This is the victory of democracy. PM Modi's dream that at grassroots level polls should be held in J&K has been fulfilled," Mr Thakur added.
The announcement of the DDC polls was so sudden that it took political parties by surprise. Regional leaders emerging from long detentions and restrictions were caught in a Catch-22 situation. The decision to fight the election was just not easy for the new political amalgam derided by the BJP as the "Gupkar gang".
The alliance between arch rivals National Conference, PDP and other groups was formed to fight for restoration of Article 370 and statehood to Jammu and Kashmir. But that premise may have taken a backseat.
The Gupkar alliance announced it will field joint candidates and even issued a list of their "unanimous" candidates for the initial rounds. The bonhomie was short-lived as the tussle over seat-sharing forced them to stop releasing more such lists in the rest of the rounds.
Farooq Abdullah, Omar Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti did not campaign even once for their candidates.
Farooq Abdullah is being investigated by the Enforcement Directorate for money-laundering allegations linked to the Jammu and Kashmir Cricket Association. The agency recently attached his properties including two houses in Srinagar and Jammu region.
The alliance leaders also alleged that their candidates had been kept in security enclosures and were not allowed to campaign on the pretext of security concerns.
The BJP, on the other hand, drafted central leaders, including union ministers, to campaign across the regions in Jammu and Kashmir.
In temperatures at around minus 6 degree Celsius, people came out in large numbers to vote.
