File photo of Omar Abdullah(L) and Mehbooba Mufti.
Credit: PTI Photos
Srinagar: The results of Lok Sabha elections in Jammu and Kashmir have come as a shock for two former chief ministers - Omar Abdullah of National Conference and Mehbooba Mufti of PDP - who have conceded defeat on Tuesday from their respective Lok Sabha seats. Both were heading for a big defeat from Baramulla and Anantnag constituencies respectively at last count.
On the other hand, the BJP demonstrated its stronghold in the Jammu region, as it is set to retain both the parliamentary seats with a comfortable margin. Union Minister Jitendra Singh is leading Congress candidate Choudhary Lal Singh in Udhampur LS seat, while Jugal Kishor Sharma is ahead of Raman Bhalla of Congress in Jammu constituency.
The BJP's campaign, spearheaded by senior leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah emphasized national security, development projects, and the abrogation of Article 370 as a means of integrating J&K more closely with the rest of the country.
The biggest upset in J&K elections came from north Kashmir’s Baramulla seat where jailed independent candidate Sheikh Abdul Rashid aka Engineer Rashid is leading by a huge margin of over one lakh votes. People’s Conference (PC) candidate Sajad Lone, perceived to be BJP proxy, is at third place.
Before the announcement of the final results, Omar in a post on X said: ”I think it’s time to accept the inevitable. Congratulations to Engineer Rashid for his victory in North #Kashmir. I don’t believe his victory will hasten his release from prison nor will the people of North Kashmir get the representation they have a right to but the voters have spoken and in a democracy that’s all that matters.”
However, the NC was heading for victory in Srinagar and Anantnag seats. NC’s influential Shia leader Syed Aga Ruhullah was leading People’s Democratic Party (PDP) candidate Waheed-ur-Rehman Parray in central Kashmir’s Srinagar LS seat by a margin of over 1.5 lakh votes.
Similarly, NC’s influential tribal leader Mian Altaf Ahmad was ahead of PDP president Mehbooba Mufti from south Kashmir’s Anantnag seat by over two lakh votes.
The PDP chief wrote on X, “Respecting the verdict of the people I thank my PDP workers & leaders for their hard work & support despite all the odds. My deepest gratitude to the people who voted for me. Winning & losing is part of the game & won’t deter us from our path. Congratulations to Mian Sahab for his victory”.
The PDP, once a significant player in the region's politics, continued to struggle, failing to secure any seats. Similarly, the Congress faced an uphill battle, unable to make significant inroads in either of the two regions.
However, the election results reflect the enduring political divide between the two regions of the Union Territory, underscoring the distinct socio-political landscapes of the two areas. While the NC's victory in Kashmir highlights the region's desire for greater autonomy and protection of local identity, the BJP's success in Jammu points to a preference for integration with the national mainstream and a focus on development.
Political analysts suggest that these results, almost similar to 2019, indicate a clear mandate from the people, reinforcing the regional political dynamics. The NC's grip on the Valley and the BJP's dominance in Jammu are expected to shape the region's political discourse in the coming years.
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