Jammu-Kashmir Assembly Election 2024 Results: Congress-NC Alliance Secures Victory, Omar Abdullah Poised for CM Role

The much-awaited results of the 2024 Jammu and Kashmir Assembly elections are being revealed today, October 8, 2024, with vote counting starting at 8 am. Initially, postal ballots, which were cast by security personnel, people with disabilities, and essential service workers, were counted, followed by the tallying of votes from the Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs). Early trends indicate that the Congress-National Conference (NC) alliance is ahead, leading on over 50 seats, while the BJP is trailing behind with just over 20 seats. The PDP has managed to secure only 5 seats at this stage.

The elections, which were held in three phases, saw impressive voter turnout, reflecting a high level of public engagement. The first phase on September 18 saw 61.38% voter participation, followed by 57.31% in the second phase on September 25, and an even higher 65.48% turnout in the final phase on October 1. This demonstrates the people’s enthusiasm for shaping the political future of Jammu and Kashmir.

Despite earlier predictions suggesting a tight race, the Congress-NC coalition appears to be on the verge of forming the next government, as indicated by exit polls. With 90 seats up for grabs and 46 seats required for a majority, the alliance has been projected to secure between 35 to 48 seats. On the other hand, the BJP is expected to take between 20 to 32 seats, and the PDP between 4 to 12 seats. Independents and smaller parties may capture 6 to 16 seats, making them potential kingmakers if a hung assembly scenario arises.

Major Results Announced

In one of the standout results, BJP’s Devender Rana clinched the Nagrota seat with the largest margin of victory in the election, winning by 30,472 votes. On the opposite end, PDP’s Rafiq Ahmad Naik emerged as the candidate with the smallest margin of victory, securing the Tral seat with a narrow win.

While the BJP has performed strongly in some areas, party leader Ravinder Raina lost his Nowshera seat to an NC candidate, marking a significant defeat for the state president of the party. This election has seen historic wins and losses, with CPI(M) leader MY Tarigami claiming victory in the Kulgam constituency for the fifth consecutive time.

Future Outlook: Omar Abdullah to Take CM Role

Farooq Abdullah, a senior leader of the National Conference, has confirmed that Omar Abdullah is set to become the Chief Minister following the Congress-NC alliance’s victory. In a statement, Omar thanked voters and acknowledged the numerous challenges the party faced, stating that “many attempts were made to destroy the NC, but the people’s faith has prevailed.”

The Jammu-Kashmir elections are a landmark in the region’s post-Article 370 era. Notably, separatist parties such as Engineer Rashid's Awami Ittehad Party and Jamaat-e-Islami failed to make any significant impact in these elections. Sajad Gani Lone, the leader of the People’s Conference, won his seat in Handwara but remarked on the challenges of working within what he described as India’s “weakest assembly” due to the political landscape post-August 5, 2019. Lone emphasized the need to fight for the restoration of Jammu and Kashmir’s statehood.

A Strong Verdict on Development

Union Minister Jitendra Singh credited the BJP’s improved performance to the party’s efforts in fostering development across all sections of society, regardless of caste, creed, or religion. He expressed pride in the voter turnout, contrasting it with the historically low participation levels in the region.

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In summary, the 2024 Jammu-Kashmir Assembly elections mark a turning point in the region's political narrative, with the Congress-NC alliance emerging as the front-runner. As the final results roll in, all eyes are on the coalition’s next steps in forming the new government, and what it means for the region’s future.