Security personnel patrol outside Sher-i-Kashmir International Convention Centre (SKICC), a counting centre for Jammu & Kashmir Assembly elections, a day before the election results.
Credit: PTI Photo
The vote counting for the 90-member assembly in Jammu and Kashmir began at 8 am on Tuesday and the Valley is set to get its first elected government since 2019 when Article 370 was abrogated.
The counting of postal ballots started first at 7:30 am and then Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) were taken up. “All arrangements are in place. Candidates have also been given information about their counting agents,” J&K’s Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) P K Pole said.
Track live updates from Jammu and Kashmir vote counting here
NC-Congress alliance takes a clear lead
Echoing the early trends, NC-Congress have maintained their lead in the Valley. While the BJP has won only 17 seats so far, the alliance has 33 seats in its kitty.
What did the early trends show?
The National Conference-Congress alliance crossed the halfway mark in the early trends. Meanwhile, the BJP is leading in 24 seats. Mehbooba Mufti's PDP that is ahead in three seats so far may emerge as the kingmaker. Prominent among those who leading are National Conference vice president Omar Abdullah leading in both the seats, Pradesh Congress president Tariq Hameed Karra, AICC general secretary Ghulam Ahmad Mir, CPI(M) leader M Y Tarigami and BJP’s former minister Sham Lal Sharma and Devender Singh Rana.
Omar Abdullah to hold CM post?
Omar Abdullah will be the chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir, his father and National Conference president Farooq Abdullah announced on Tuesday as the party looked on course to come to power in the union territory with ally Congress.
"Omar Abdullah will be the chief minister," the senior Abdullah told reporters when asked who would be the alliance's CM designate.
The NC president also said the verdict was a proof that the people of J-K were against the abrogation of Article 370.
How are the independent candidates performing?
Three independent candidates have so far registered victories in the Jammu and Kashmir assembly polls, while four others are leading in various constituencies.
In Inderwal, independent candidate Payare Lal Sharma defeated veteran leader Gulam Mohammad Saroori by a narrow margin of 643 votes.
In Bani, independent candidate Dr. Rameshwar Singh defeated BJP candidate and former MLA Jewan Lal by 2,048 votes. Singh secured 18,672 votes, while Lal polled 16,624 votes.
In the Surankote assembly segment, independent candidate and National Conference rebel Choudhary Mohammad Akram defeated Congress candidate Mohammad Shahnawaz with a margin of 8,851 votes.
Besides them, four independent candidates -- Satesh Sharma from Chhamb, Muzaffar Iqbal Khan from Thanamandi, Khursheed Ahmed Sheikh from Langate, and Shabir Ahmed from Shopian -- are leading in their constituencies.
NC-Cong alliance crossed halfway mark within the first hour of counting
The National Conference-Congress alliance is likely to form government in Jammu and Kashmir with poll trends on Tuesday showing the combine ahead in 51 of the 90 seats while the BJP was leading in 26.
Trends uploaded by the Election Commission showed that the PDP was ahead in five seats in the Union territory while the Independents are leading on seven seats.
What did the exit polls predict?
Several exit polls on Saturday gave an edge to the Congress' alliance with the NC, with the regional partner projected to emerge as the single largest party.
How did the parties in contest react to exit polls predictions?
Parties in contest are not pleased with the predictions. While the Congress and the National Conference, who formed a pre-poll alliance, claim they would cross the magical figure of 46 in the 90-member House on their own, the BJP was relying on independent candidates and the PDP said no secular government was possible in Jammu and Kashmir without its support. Jammu and Kashmir BJP chief Ravinder Raina said his party would emerge as the single largest, securing 35 seats. With the help of independents and like-minded groups, the BJP would cross the majority mark, he said.
Political drama on eve of counting
The valley echoed with political drama on the eve of vote counting with Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha's power to nominate five members to the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly at the centre of a political and legal debate, with the Congress and regional parties NC and PDP opposing any such move during government formation.
It is now for the country to see the decision made by the citizens of Jammu and Kashmir unfold. Until then, sit back readers as we bring to you latest updates.
(With DHNS, PTI inputs)
Assembly Elections 2024 | In the first assembly polls since the Lok Sabha elections, Narendra Modi and the BJP face a rejuvenated and vindicated Opposition in the Haryana assembly polls. Meanwhile, Jammu and Kashmir is voting after almost a decade and it remains to be seen how the abrogation of Article 370 has impacted the political landscape of the Valley. Track the latest coverage, live news, in-depth opinions, and analyses only on Deccan Herald.