Srinagar, October
The National Conference-Indian National Congress alliance is inching towards a big victory in the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly elections. Counting for the 90-seat Assembly began at 8 am and five hours into counting, the NC-INC combine has taken the lead in 52 seats, while the BJP is leading in 27 seats. The PDP has seen a steep decline, leading in only two seats. Other parties, including independents, are leading in eight seats.
Former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah is leading in both the Ganderbal and Budgam seats, while the PDP leader Iltija Mufti conceded defeat from her family stronghold, the Sirgufwara-Bijbehra seat.
Talking to Iltija said she accepted the people’s verdict and thanked her party workers for canvassing for her.,
Former Minister & Congress candidate Peerzada Mohammed Syed with supporters celebrates his victory in the J&K Assembly polls, in Anantnag on Tuesday. , Photo Credit:-
At the end of the ninth round, Iltija was trailing the NC leader, Dr Bashir Ahmad Veeri, by 8,758 votes in Sirgufwara-Bijbehara constituency.
Jammu and Kashmir witnessed its first polls after 10 long years and polling was conducted in three phases, recording a poll percentage of 63.45 per cent. These are also the first elections after the Union Government made sweeping changes in the land laws of the region following the abrogation of Article 370 and 35- A.
Omar Abdullah wins both Budgam and Ganderbal seats.
Jammu and Kashmir National Conference Vice President Omar Abdullah receives the victory certificate after winning from Budgam constituency in the JK Assembly elections, in Srinagar. , Photo Credit: PTI
The former Chief Minister and vice president of the Jammu and Kashmir National Conference leader has registered victory in both the Budgam and Ganderbal Assembly constituencies.
In the Budgam seat, Omar defeated the People’s Democratic Party Aga Syed Muntazir by 18,485 votes.
Omar bagged 36,010 votes, while Muntazir secured 17,525 votes. Muntazir is the son of influential Shia leader Aga Syed Hassan.
In the 2014 Assembly elections, NC leader Aga Ruhullah Mehdi won the seat by 2787 votes.
From the Ganderbal Assembly constituency seat, Omar defeated PDP’s Bashir Ahmad Mir.
The Ganderbal constituency is Omar’s family bastion, and three generations of Abdullahs have been sent to the Assembly.
However, in 2002, Omar was defeated by PDP leader Qazi Mohammad Afzal from the Ganderbal seat. In 2008, Omar again retained the seat. However, in 2014, he moved to Central Kashmir’s Beerwah constituency, leaving the seat for Sheikh Ishfaq, another NC leader.
MY Tarigami wins for 5th consecutive time
CPI(M) leader Muhammad Yousuf Tarigami Photo Credit: PTI
Senior CPI leader Mohamad Yousuf Tarigami has won from the Kulgam Assembly constituency for the fifth time in a row.
The veteran communist leader registered his victory from the Kulgam Assembly seat, the bastion of radical Jamaat-e-Islami.
Tarigami defeated Jamaat-e-Islami-backed candidate Sayar Ahmad Reshi. Tarigami was a candidate who the NC Congress supported.
Tarigami had represented the constituency since 1996, when the elections were held for the first time after a hiatus of more than six years.
Tarigami received 33,390 votes, while Reshi secured 25,639 votes.