National Conference, Congress’ Big Win Over BJP In 1st IIOJ&K Poll In Decade

The National Conference and the Congress on Tuesday won the IIOJammu 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; five more will be nominated by Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha under a contentious new rule.

But 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 favour of the Congress-NC combine.

However (and exit polls are often wrong), as it turned out Ms Mufti’s support was not needed.