Jammu and Kashmir Assembly Elections 2024 | Key takeaways from vote counting

The vote counting for the 90-member assembly in Jammu and Kashmir began at 8 am on Tuesday and were the first since the provisions of Article 370 of the Constitution were abrogated and the erstwhile state divided into two Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh in 2019.

National Conference-Congress coalition swept the polls winning 48 seats, while the BJP emerged as the second largest party with 29 seats at the end of counting for 90 Assembly seats on Tuesday. Seven seats were won by Independents, three went to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and one each to the CPI(M), Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and Peoples Conference.

Track live updates from Jammu and Kashmir vote counting here

NC-Congress alliance takes a clear lead

Echoing the early trends, NC-Congress have maintained their lead in the Valley. While the BJP has won only 17 seats so far, the alliance has 33 seats in its kitty.

What did the early trends show?

The National Conference-Congress alliance crossed the halfway mark in the early trends. Meanwhile, the BJP is leading in 24 seats. Mehbooba Mufti's PDP that is ahead in three seats so far may emerge as the kingmaker. Prominent among those who leading are National Conference vice president Omar Abdullah leading in both the seats, Pradesh Congress president Tariq Hameed Karra, AICC general secretary Ghulam Ahmad Mir, CPI(M) leader M Y Tarigami and BJP’s former minister Sham Lal Sharma and Devender Singh Rana.

Omar Abdullah to hold CM post?

Omar Abdullah will be the chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir, his father and National Conference president Farooq Abdullah announced on Tuesday as the party looked on course to come to power in the union territory with ally Congress.

"Omar Abdullah will be the chief minister," the senior Abdullah told reporters when asked who would be the alliance's CM designate.

The NC president also said the verdict was a proof that the people of J-K were against the abrogation of Article 370. Omar Abdullah, however said the I.N.D.I.A. bloc will stake claim to form the government in Jammu and Kashmir only after the alliance partners meet to elect the leader of the coalition in the assembly.

How are the independent candidates performing?

Three independent candidates have so far registered victories in the Jammu and Kashmir assembly polls, while four others are leading in various constituencies.

In Inderwal, independent candidate Payare Lal Sharma defeated veteran leader Gulam Mohammad Saroori by a narrow margin of 643 votes.

In Bani, independent candidate Dr. Rameshwar Singh defeated BJP candidate and former MLA Jewan Lal by 2,048 votes. Singh secured 18,672 votes, while Lal polled 16,624 votes.

In the Surankote assembly segment, independent candidate and National Conference rebel Choudhary Mohammad Akram defeated Congress candidate Mohammad Shahnawaz with a margin of 8,851 votes.

Besides them, four independent candidates -- Satesh Sharma from Chhamb, Muzaffar Iqbal Khan from Thanamandi, Khursheed Ahmed Sheikh from Langate, and Shabir Ahmed from Shopian -- are leading in their constituencies.

NC-Cong alliance crossed halfway mark within the first hour of counting

The National Conference-Congress alliance is likely to form government in Jammu and Kashmir with poll trends on Tuesday showing the combine ahead in 51 of the 90 seats while the BJP was leading in 26.

Trends uploaded by the Election Commission showed that the PDP was ahead in five seats in the Union territory while the Independents are leading on seven seats.

What did the exit polls predict?

Several exit polls on Saturday gave an edge to the Congress' alliance with the NC, with the regional partner projected to emerge as the single largest party.

How did the parties in contest react to exit polls predictions?

Parties in contest are not pleased with the predictions. While the Congress and the National Conference, who formed a pre-poll alliance, claim they would cross the magical figure of 46 in the 90-member House on their own, the BJP was relying on independent candidates and the PDP said no secular government was possible in Jammu and Kashmir without its support. Jammu and Kashmir BJP chief Ravinder Raina said his party would emerge as the single largest, securing 35 seats. With the help of independents and like-minded groups, the BJP would cross the majority mark, he said.

Political drama on eve of counting

The valley echoed with political drama on the eve of vote counting with Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha's power to nominate five members to the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly at the centre of a political and legal debate, with the Congress and regional parties NC and PDP opposing any such move during government formation.

Kejriwal hails AAP for party's victory in Doda

AAP supremo Arvind Kejriwal on Tuesday congratulated the party for the victory in Jammu and Kashmir's Doda Assembly seat and opening its account in a fifth state.

AAP candidate Mehraj Malik, a District Development Council (DDC) member, polled 23,228 votes against BJP's Gajay Singh Rana's 18,690 votes in Doda assembly constituency.

'Attempts made to destroy National Conference'

Earlier, in Budgam, Abdullah said many attempts were made to destroy his party over the last five years by creating new outfits which have been decimated in this election.

"There were attempts to destroy the NC over the last five years. So many parties were created here, whose only aim was to destroy the NC. But, God's grace has been on us and those who tried to destroy us, have been decimated in the process," Abdullah told reporters after receiving his winning certificate from the returning officer for the Budgam seat.

"I am thankful to the voters in Budgam for voting for me, making me successful and giving me an opportunity to serve the people of J-K once again," he said.

Abdullah said the verdict has increased the party's responsibilities.

"It is our duty now to come up to the expectations of the people through our work and that is what our endeavour would be for the next five years," he added.

Assembly Elections 2024 | In the first assembly polls since the Lok Sabha elections, Narendra Modi and the BJP face a rejuvenated and vindicated Opposition in the Haryana assembly polls. Meanwhile, Jammu and Kashmir is voting after almost a decade and it remains to be seen how the abrogation of Article 370 has impacted the political landscape of the Valley. Track the latest coverage, live news, in-depth opinions, and analyses only on Deccan Herald.