Omar Abdullah set to become CM
Srinagar, Oct 8: The National Conference (NC) has made significant gains in the recent assembly elections, with its seat count increasing from 15 in 2014 to 42 in these polls.
The J&K Assembly elections were held in three phases on September 18, 25, and October 1. Voter turnout in the first phase was 61.38%, dropping to 57.31% in the second phase, before rising to 69.65% in the final phase. The overall voter turnout stood at 62.78%.
However, in these elections, the NC emerged as the winner, securing 42 seats, followed by the BJP with 29, Congress with 6, JKPDP with 3, and the remaining seats claimed by smaller parties and independents.
Senior NC leader Omar Abdullah is likely to become the Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir. Omar won two seats, one from Ganderbal and another from Budgam.
NC President Farooq Abdullah expressed pride in his son’s performance and the party’s strong showing. “Omar has proven himself, and without a doubt, he will become the Chief Minister,” Farooq Abdullah said.
The NC had allied with Congress. Under the seat-sharing agreement, NC contested 51 seats, while Congress contested 32. Additionally, five seats witnessed a “friendly contest” between the two allies. The Communist Party of India (Marxist) and the Panthers Party contested one seat each.
In Srinagar, the NC-Congress alliance made a clean sweep. The NC won seven seats, while Congress claimed one.
Speaking to the media after his victories in Budgam and Ganderbal, Omar Abdullah emphasized the strength of the alliance.
“The people of Jammu and Kashmir have shown their faith in the National Conference, and the support of our alliance partners has made this victory even more meaningful,” he said.
He also expressed a sense of humility from the winning mandate. “This mandate makes me feel even more humble. It comes after what was a personal setback in the Baramulla elections, and I am deeply grateful to all the voters who reposed their faith in the National Conference and the wider alliance,” he added.
