Electoral Upset: BJP Tops J&K Vote Share, Loses Power Play

Srinagar, Oct 9: In a surprising turn of events, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has emerged with the highest vote share in the recently concluded Jammu and Kashmir assembly elections, despite the National Conference (NC) and Congress alliance likely forming the next government.
The NC has secured the largest number of seats, winning 42 in the 87-member assembly. The BJP follows with 29 seats, while the Congress and Jammu Kashmir Peoples Democratic Party (JKPDP) won 6 and 3 seats respectively. The remaining seats were clinched by smaller parties and independent candidates.
However, the BJP’s performance in terms of vote share tells a different story. According to the Kashmir Indepth News Service (KINS), the BJP garnered 25.64% of the total votes cast, up from 22.98% in the 2014 elections. This increase reflects the party’s growing influence in the region and its ability to cut into the vote banks of traditional parties.
The Congress party has suffered significant losses, with its vote share dropping from 18.01% in 2014 to 11.97% in this election. This decline is mirrored in its seat count, which has halved from 12 to 6. In contrast, the NC has shown resilience and growth. Its vote share increased from 20.77% in 2014 to 23.43% in 2024, accompanied by a substantial rise in seats from 15 to 42.
The JKPDP, once a major player, has seen a dramatic decline. Its vote share plummeted from 22.67% in 2014 to a mere 8.87% in this election, signaling a major shift in voter preference.
The assembly elections were conducted in three phases on September 18, 25, and October 1, 2024. Voter participation varied across phases, with the first phase seeing a 61.38% turnout, the second phase 57.31%, and the third phase showing a notable increase to 69.65%. The overall voter turnout for the election stood at a robust 62.78%, indicating strong civic engagement despite the region’s complex political landscape.
In the 2014 elections, the political landscape looked markedly different, with the PDP securing 28 seats, BJP winning 25 seats (all from the Jammu region), NC obtaining 15 seats, and Congress winning 12 seats. The current results represent a significant shift in voter preferences and party fortunes over the past decade.
While the NC-Congress alliance is poised to form the government, the BJP’s strong showing in vote share suggests a changing political dynamic in Jammu and Kashmir. This development may lead to a more complex and potentially contentious political environment in the coming years.
The decline of once-dominant parties like the JKPDP and the Congress’s diminished presence indicate a realignment of political forces in the region. As the new government takes shape, all eyes will be on how it navigates these shifting allegiances and addresses the diverse needs of Jammu and Kashmir’s populace.

Add a comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Keep Up to Date with the Most Important News

By pressing the Subscribe button, you confirm that you have read and are agreeing to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use