J&K elections: BJP, Cong witness significant increase in vote share since 2014

Srinagar Mar 20: The BJP and Congress vote shares have increased in the last two Lok Sabha elections in Jammu and Kashmir.
Political parties are gearing up for the upcoming Parliamentary elections in the state, which comprises five Lok Sabha constituencies. Over the past decade, the BJP has made significant strides in Jammu and Kashmir.

During the 2014 Lok Sabha polls, Jammu and Kashmir saw a voter turnout of 49.72%. The BJP secured two seats in Jammu and one in Ladakh, with a voter share of 32.6%. While, the PDP won three seats in Kashmir with a 20.7% voter share. The Congress garnered a voter share of 23.1% but failed to win any seats, while the National Conference managed an 11.2% voter share.
In the 2019 Parliamentary elections, voter turnout in Jammu and Kashmir was 49.3%. The BJP retained its two seats in Jammu and one in Ladakh, with its voter share increasing to 46.7%. The NC won all three seats in the Kashmir valley with a 7.9% voter share. The Congress received 28.6% of the votes, and the PDP secured a 2.4% vote share.
However, the main contenders were the NC, BJP, Congress, PDP, and Independent candidate Engineer Rashid.
Looking ahead to the 2024 polls, it appears that seven political parties, including the BJP, Congress, NC, PDP, J&K Apni Party, J&K Peoples Conference, and Democratic Azad Party, will be the main contenders.
The BJP’s dominant voter share is attributed to the significant voter turnout in Jammu and Ladakh during the 2014 and 2019 elections. Despite winning all seats in Kashmir during the respective polls, the PDP and NC had lower voter shares due to the widespread boycott of elections in the region.
The BJP is striving to make inroads into the Kashmir valley, where it has not yet won a Lok Sabha or assembly seat despite persistent endeavours.
The Anantnag Lok Sabha seat in Kashmir, once covering areas of Anantnag, Kulgam, Pulwama, and Shopian, has been modified in the delimitation process. Consequently, sections of Rajouri and Poonch from the Jammu division are now part of this parliamentary constituency.
“We are hopeful to retain two seats in Jammu. Besides, we have gained ground in Kashmir over the years. We expect at least to win the Anantnag Lok Sabha seat. The Prime Minister will also address a rally there,” a senior BJP leader said.
The BJP is focusing on the delimitation process and the recent extension of Scheduled Tribe (ST) status to the Paharis in Rajouri and Poonch districts.
J&K’s BJP president Ravinder Raina said the party will field candidates from all parliamentary seats of Kashmir.
The BJP has launched its Lok Sabha election campaign by inaugurating election offices in Srinagar, Baramulla, Anantnag, Jammu, and Udhampur. This move is perceived as an effort by the BJP leadership to broaden its influence in Jammu and Kashmir, particularly in the Valley.