Omar Abdullah speaks during a meeting with his party workers a day after the District Development Council elections result in Srinagar. (AP)
Jammu and Kashmir DDC Election Results 2020 Highlights: The Farooq Abdullah-led People’s Alliance for Gupkar Declaration made a big victory in the first elections held in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir after the abrogation of the erstwhile state’s special status in August 2019. The alliance has won 110 seats, while the BJP emerged as the single largest party by getting 75 seats after securing the largest vote share in the union territory.
Out of the 278 seats for which results have been declared by the J-K Election Commission so far, besides the PAGD and the BJP, Independent candidates have won 50, Congress 26, Apni Party 12, PDF and the National Panthers Party two each and the BSP one.
The results of two constituencies – one each in Bandipora and Kupwara districts of north Kashmir – are still awaited as counting of votes has been deferred there till further orders, officials told news agency PTI.
National Conference vice-president Omar Abdullah has alleged that the J&K authorities are “collecting” the independent candidates for the BJP. Taking to Twitter, Omar alleged than an an ex-MLC of the party was taken away by the police to prevent him from contacting the independent DDC members elected in his district, and that the authorities are transporting the members to Srinagar for “discussions”.
The poll results mean that the BJP has secured control of at least six District Development Councils (DDCs) in Jammu and none in Kashmir. The People’s Alliance has a majority in nine DDCs, all in the Valley. As there is no clear-cut majority in the five councils, the independent candidates are likely to play the role of king makers.
Residents stand in a queue to cast their vote during the 7th phase of the DDC polls at Mendhar in Poonch district on December 16. (PTI)
Jammu and Kashmir State Election Commissioner K K Sharma on Wednesday said the counting of votes in two DDC constituencies has been kept in abeyance to clear doubts over the citizenship of two of the contesting candidates from north Kashmir's Bandipora and Kupwara districts.
Sharma said the counting in rest of the 278 District Development Council (DDC) seats, which started on Tuesday morning, concluded peacefully Wednesday morning.
"The counting of votes was deferred in Drugmulla constituency (Kupwara district) and Hajin-A (Bandipora) in view of a question that has arisen on eligibility of one each contesting candidates from the two seats,"Sharma told reporters.
Union Minister Jitendra Singh on Wednesday said the people of Jammu & Kashmir have voted for development and rejected the politics of rhetoric that he claimed was intended to underplay the "unprecedented" development work and pro-poor schemes initiated by the Modi government.
Referring to the just-concluded District Development Council (DDC) election in the Union Territory, he said voters could see the development and welfare schemes reaching their doorstep and alleged that opponents, cynics and certain disgruntled elements tried their best to create a narrative that no progress had taken place.
"The voter has proved that he has come of age and can neither be hoodwinked by rhetoric nor by money or muscle power," said Singh, Minister of State for Personnel.
Nineteen candidates saw an extremely close contest in the maiden District Development Council (DDC) polls in Jammu and Kashmir where the margin of victory was less than 100.
Of these candidates, eight are Independents, followed by three from the BJP, two each from the National Conference and the Congress and one each from the Jammu and Kashmir Apni Party (JKAP), People Democratic Front (PDF) and the Peoples Conference (PC), as per data of the state election authority.
Avtar Singh, a Sikh who contested as Independent candidate in the Dadsara constituency of Pulwama district, won the DDC polls by just three votes.
Singh polled 246 votes while rival NC candidate Ali Mohmmad Bhat polled 243 votes. Khalid Bibi won Larnoo segment of Anantnag district on the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) ticket with a thin margin of seven votes as she polled 4,580 votes against his rival Independent candidate Sajida Begam, who polled 4,573 votes.
Two candidates lost by just 11 votes in Shopian district. Former BJP minister Sham Lal Choudhary lost in the Suchetgarh constituency of Jammu district by 11 votes.
Challenging the PAGD's assertion that the people have spoken out against the abrogation of Article 370 in the DDC polls, Union Minister Anurag Thakur on Wednesday said the BJP and Independents got over 52 per cent votes which shows that the Gupkar alliance has been rejected.
Noting that the BJP has emerged as the single-largest party and its vote share is more than the Gupkar alliance, he claimed that those who were happy with the scrapping of Article 370 voted for the BJP and the Independents. "If you put the BJP and Independents vote share together, it makes over 52 percent votes. This shows J-K people have rejected the Gupkar Gang," he said.
The people of Jammu and Kashmir have spoken out against "terrorism and separatism" and voted in favour of democracy and nationalism, the BJP leader, who was actively involved in the campaign, said.
"As in different states where parties ganged up against the BJP and Modi ji, such a gang was given the name of Gupkar here. But they have together failed to dent the BJP," Thakur told reporters here.
National Conference leader and former J&K chief minister Omar Abdullah has alleged the J&K administration is 'collecting' independent candidates for the BJP which won 75 seats in the DDC elections.
Taking to Twitter, omar alleged than an an ex-MLC of the National Conference was prevented from contacting the independent DDC members elected in his district, and that the authorities are transporting the members to Srinagar.
CPI(M) leader Mohammed Yousuf Tarigami said on Wednesday the result of the District Development Council polls went in favour of the People's Alliance for Gupkar Declaration (PAGD) and it was a clear indication that the people of Jammu and Kashmir want "restoration of their rights".
Tarigami said, "The verdict is an eye-opener for the BJP government, which had launched a propaganda last August that people of Jammu and Kashmir have accepted its arbitrary and unconstitutional decision of revoking the erstwhile state's special status under Article 370."
The People's Alliance for Gupkar Declaration (PAGD) swept the maiden District Development Council (DDC) polls by winning 110 seats, while the BJP emerged as the single largest party by getting 75 seats after securing the largest vote share in Jammu and Kashmir, officials said on Wednesday.
The results of two constituencies - one each in Bandipora and Kupwara districts of north Kashmir - are still awaited as counting of votes has been deferred there till further orders, they said.
The counting of votes for the 280 DDC constituencies - 14 each in 20 districts - started on Tuesday morning after the peaceful culmination of the eight-phase election from November 28 to December 19. This was the first democratic exercise in Jammu and Kashmir post abrogation of Article 370 and bifurcation of the erstwhile state into union territories last year.
Out of the 278 seats for which results have been declared by the J-K Election Commission so far, besides the PAGD and the BJP, Independent candidates have won 50, Congress 26, Apni Party 12, PDF and the National Panthers Party two each and the BSP one.
Apni Party, which was formed nine months ago, has bagged 12 seats and over 38,000 votes in the first election it has contested in Jammu and Kashmir. Led by former minister and Kashmir's top businessman Altaf Bukhari, the Jammu and Kashmir Apni Party was formed on March 8 with some senior leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Congress to give the people of Kashmir an alternative to the bipolar setup of the NC and the PDP.
While the party bagged three seats from Jammu region, the rest were from Kashmir valley. As per data, it got a vote share of over 38,000 votes.
The party's Ajaz Ahmed Khan, a former Congress minister and veteran Gujjar leader, won DDC elections from Thuroo segment of Reasi district by 1578 votes, as per the data of election authority.
He polled 4,904 votes while Mohammad Ashraf of NC got 3,326 votes. He was a minister in the NC-Congress government and a two-time MLA.
Apni Party candidates Yasmeen won from Chasana segment of Reasi district and Nasreen Akhtar from Bhudal-new segment of Rajouri district.
The party bagged seats in Bandopra-A (Bandipora), Kunzar, Tangmarg (both in Baramulla), Tanghar (Kupwara), Kellar (Shopian), Harwan-II, Srinagar-III and Khanmoh-I (both in Srinagar).
Stats at 5:30 am
"I heartily thank our sisters and brothers of J&K for voting BJP as the single largest party in the District Development Council elections. BJP under the leadership of PM Narendra Modi will continue to work relentlessly towards the prosperity and development of the J&K region," Union Home Minister Amit Shah said in a tweet.
He also congratulated people of J-K for the turnout in DDC polls. "I applaud the efforts of our security forces and local administration for successfully conducting these multi-phased elections. This will further boost the morale and trust of people of J-K in democracy," he added.
"I want to tell all BJP leaders that fight with me politically, not through NIA, ED and CBI. Democracy is about fundamental rights," PDP leader and former J&K CM Mehbooba Mufti said on Wednesday.
The Centre should listen to the people's voice against the abrogation of Article 370 since it has itself termed the DDC polls as a victory of democracy, National Conference (NC) vice-president Omar Abdullah said on Wednesday.
Abdullah, who was addressing party workers at NC headquarters Nawa-i-Subah, said the people have made clear their view by supporting the People's Alliance for Gupkar Declaration (PAGD) in the District Development Council polls.
"If you really say that democracy has won, then you will have to listen to the voices of the people, and the people of Jammu and Kashmir have said it with a huge majority that they do not accept (the decisions of) August 5, 2019," Abdullah was quoted saying by PTI.
"We also accept it (that democracy has won). When did we say that we do not trust democracy? It is another thing that you do not trust us. We have been saying this from day one that we will fight for our rights but not unlawfully or unconstitutionally. We are not for disturbing the atmosphere in this state, but to make it better," Abdullah added.
Here are the latest stats:
PAGD: 110
BJP: 75
Independents: 50
Congress: 26
JKAP: 12
Counting for Drugmulla, Kupwara and Hajin-A, Bandipora remains on hold.
The PAGD has got a clear majority in six districts, followed by the BJP in five in the maiden DDC election in Jammu and Kashmir but the alliance of seven mainstream parties has got an edge over the saffron party in six other districts as it is just short of one or two seats for the majority.
Independent candidates hold sway in the rest of the two districts--Srinagar and Poonch--where they have won seven seats each. An independent candidate is also leading in another seat in Poonch district, where the counting for one of the constituencies is still in progress.
Results of four constituencies - one each in Bandipora and Kupwara districts of north Kashmir and Poonch and Rajouri districts in Jammu region - are still awaited. (PTI)
Targeting the Gupkar Alliance, the BJP said that the DDC poll results show that the 'Gupkar Gang has lost credibility.' "It is important to know that independent candidates have polled more votes than the Congress and the PDP. The same Mehbooba Mufti who'd refused to unfurl the Tricolour has got a befitting reply today. The combined vote share of the Independent candidates and the BJP amounts to a little over 52%. This is a clear indication that the Gupkar Gang has lost its credibility and the trust of the people."
Speaking about the results, National Conference leader Omar Abdullah said, "This election has proved that no matter what you do against National Conference, you can't put an end to its existence. Only Almighty or public has that power. Spread lies & propaganda but truth will come out someday." Adding that the party can imporve in some areas, Omar said, "With this defeat, I don't think BJP govt will conduct Assembly elections here anytime soon. They would have announced the polls by now had they believed in democracy. So, we have time to strengthen our party." (ANI)
Five out of the seven former ministers who contested the DDC election in Jammu and Kashmir have won, while two belonging to the BJP suffered defeats, according to data issued by the state election authority (SEA). Senior Congress leader and former minister Taj Mohiuddin, who was in the fray for Parenpillan constituency of Uri tehsil in north Kashmir's Baramulla district, won the seat with a margin of 1,596 votes, officials said. Taj, who held several terms as minister and MLA, polled 9,741
Veteran NC leader and former minister Abdul Gani, who contested from Mahore seat in Reasi district, won the election by a margin of 351 votes. He polled 4,833 votes and defeated independent candidate Shafi-ur-Rehman, who got 4,482 votes. Gani has been MLA and a former minister in the Omar Abdullah government. Jagjeevan Lal, a senior NC leader and former minister, won the Reasi seat by defeating BJP's Chaman Lal by 237 votes. Lal polled 4,507 votes against Lal's 4270. Former Congress minister and veteran Gujjar leader Ajaz Ahmed Khan, who joined the J&K Apni Party, won the DDC election from Thuroo segment of Reasi district by 1,578 votes, according to the SEA data.
A veteran Pahari leader and former Congress minister, Shabir Ahmed Khan won the Manjakote seat in Rajouri district with a margin of 3,394 votes as he polled 8,714 votes against Shafat Khan, who got 5,320 votes. Shabir Khan was minister in the NC-Congress government led Omar Abdullah.
Former BJP ministers Sham Lal Choudhary and Shakti Raj Parihar, however, lost their seat from Jammu and Doda districts.
As expected, BJP bagged six of the 10 DDCs in Jammu Division but it was the Gupkar Alliance’s win in nine out of 10 DDCs in the Kashmir Division that’s the key takeaway.
More than this outcome, it’s the space that this democratic exercise has opened up in the Union Territory, and particularly in the Valley, which assumes significance. It has kickstarted politics, dormant and locked down since August 5 last year when the state was split and downgraded and its special status abrogated. The Alliance members’ decision to contest has been vindicated by the outcome.
Kashmiris will have representatives people can go to with their day-to-day grievances and institutions whose doors they can knock on. Logon ki sunwai hogi (people will be heard), and funds will reach these Councils based on the size of their population.
The BJP emerged victorious in District Development Councils (DDC) in Jammu, Samba, Kathua, Udhampur districts, besides Doda district of Chenab Valley region, as the counting progressed on Tuesday.
The saffron party emerged as the single largest party by reaching the halfway mark by winning seven of 14 DDC constituencies in Reasi district as well, but its winning spree in Jammu division of the Union Territory was halted by the National Conference and Independents in Poonch and Rajouri districts of Pir Panjal region, besides Ramban and Kishtwar districts of Chenab Valley adjoining Kashmir.
"The DDC election result is a victory of the policies of the Govt of India, and of the Jammu & Kashmir administration in successfully conducting the polls. The greatest win is for the locals who have endorsed the country's democratic system," BJP leader Ram Madhav said. (ANI)
Besides the BJP and the National Conference winning big on their own, the single largest group of winning candidates in the DDC elections are the Independents. Barring five of 20 districts, Independents won the day in all other districts. As per latest available figures, 49 seats were won by independents.
The Gupkar alliance -- a grouping of seven mainstream J&K-based parties including rivals National Conference and Mehbooba Mufti's People's Democratic Party (PDP) - won 110 seats; the BJP has emerged as the single largest party as it won 74 seats. The Congress has won 26 seats.
Stats at 11 am
Former BJP minister Sham Lal Choudhary lost by a razor-thin margin of 11 votes in Suchetgarh constituency of Jammu district in the maiden District Development Council (DDC) election, officials said on Wednesday.
In Jammu, the BJP won 11 seats, followed by independent candidates who got two seats, while one seat went into the kitty of the National Conference (NC). According to the figures provided by the state election authority (SEA), Sham Lal Choudhary polled 12,958 votes against independent candidate Taranjit Singh, who polled 12,969 votes in Suchetgarh segment of Jammu district. Choudhary was a cabinet minister in the BJP-PDP coalition government in the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir. He won assembly elections from Suchetgarh in 2014 and 2008 and is considered to be a powerful leader in the border belt of R S Pura.
As Drugmulla went to polls in the fourth phase on December 7, the turnout kept Somia Sadaf's hopes alive. She was the first woman from Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) to contest the DDC polls. But as she anxiously awaited the results on Tuesday, the counting for the DDC seat was not allowed.
Reason: Sadaf, and her domicile.
On Tuesday, counting for the seat was stopped after the office of the State Election Commissioner wrote to the Deputy Commissioner, Kupwara, asking him to stop the counting. Asking why no one raised the issue when she had filed her nomination, and afterward, Sadaf said, “It was a surprise for me…. Nobody objected for over a month. Suddenly, when I was sure to win this seat, today they didn’t allow counting of votes.”
Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC) president Ghulam Ahmad Mir' son Naseer Ahmad Mir on Tuesday lost the District Development Council (DDC) polls from Anantnag district of the union territory. Naseer Ahmad Mir, who contested from the Verinag constituency of south Kashmir district, lost to independent candidate Peer Shahbaz Ahmad. Son of the JKPCC president, Naseer Ahmad Mir had plunged into electoral politics for the first time. His father, a former minister, has been the JKPCC president for two consecutive terms since 2015. Ghulam Ahmad Mir had also lost his last election when he contested the Parliamentary polls from the Anantnag Lok Sabha constituency. He was defeated by National Conference's Hasnain Masoodi in the 2019 polls. (PTI)
Counting of votes for the 280 District Development Councils (DDC) in J&K is still underway. Here’s the latest tally:
BJP: 70
NC: 57
Independent: 44
PDP: 26
INC: 21
JKAP: 10
CPI(M): 5
Counting of votes for the 280 District Development Councils (DDC) in J&K is still underway. Here’s the latest tally:
BJP: 65
NC: 53
Independent: 39
PDP: 25
INC: 20
JKAP: 10
CPI(M): 5
Counting of votes for the 280 District Development Councils (DDC) in J&K is still underway. Here’s the latest tally:
BJP: 56
NC: 52
Independent: 37
PDP: 23
INC: 19
JKAP: 9
CPI(M): 5
As of 9 PM, here's the party wise results
Of 154 results declared so far, BJP single-largest, but just 3 seats in Kashmir. People’s Alliance of Gupkar Declaration leads overall, with National Conference winning 36. Meanwhile, in a surprise, independent candidates have bagged 28 seats so far.
National Conference vice president Omar Abdullah on Tuesday said people from Jammu as well as Kashmir have extended complete support to the Gupkar alliance and endorsed its plan seeking restoration of J-K's special status by giving a befitting reply to the BJP in the DDC polls.
His remarks came amid counting of votes of the District Development Council (DDC) elections.
Abdullah, who is a former chief minister, told PTI that the results and trends are an "important milestone" for the PAGD as they endorse "our view" that revoking of special status was not acceptable to the people.
"Now if the BJP and its proxy political party believe in democracy, as they have stated, they should immediately reverse its decision (abrogation of special status) and respect the verdict of the people of this region," he said.
Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC) president Ghulam Ahmad Mir' son Naseer Ahmad Mir on Tuesday lost the District Development Council (DDC) polls from Anantnag district of the union territory.
Naseer Ahmad Mir, who contested from the Verinag constituency of south Kashmir district, lost to independent candidate Peer Shahbaz Ahmad.
Son of the JKPCC president, Naseer Ahmad Mir had plunged into electoral politics for the first time. (PTI)
*People's Alliance on Gupkar Declaration (PAGD)
Leading: 81 seats
Won: 30 seats
*BJP
Leading: 56
Won: 08
*Congress
Leading: 19
Won: 04
Congratulating party candidates who registered victories in the District Development Council (DDC) elections, Jammu and Kashmir BJP general secretary Vibodh Gupta said the people of the Valley have exhibited their faith in the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The BJP on Tuesday won an election for the first time from any seat in Kashmir while facing regional heavyweights like the National Conference and the PDP.
"The people of Kashmir exhibited their faith in Hon'ble PM Narendra Modi's vision of naya Kashmir, and sabka saath, sabka vikas, sabka vishwas," Gupta, who is also party's in-charge for Kashmir, was quoted as saying by PTI.
"This victory belongs to the party workers of Kashmir who have shed their blood fighting a tough battle against terrorism," the BJP leader added.
According to news agency PTI, the PAGD is currently leading in 71 seats and has won 25 so far whereas the BJP is leading in 48 and has won eight seats till now. The Congress is leading in 19 seats and had bagged four seats so far. The PAGD is an alliance of seven political parties of Jammu and Kashmir, including the NC and the People's Democratic Party.
Former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah on Tuesday termed the results and emerging trends of the District Development Council polls as an eye-opener for the BJP and its "proxy political party", and said people have rejected the decision of revoking the erstwhile state's special status.
Abdullah, who is the vice president of the National Conference (NC), told PTI that the results and trends are an "important milestone" for the People's Alliance on Gupkar Declaration (PAGD) as they endorse the "out view" that revoking the special status of the erstwhile state of J-K and downgrading it into a Union Territory was not accepted by the people.
"Now if the BJP and its proxy political party believe in democracy, as they have stated, they should immediately reverse their decision and respect the verdict of the people of this region," he said.
The People's Alliance for Gupkar Declaration (PAGD), an amalgam of seven political parties, was ahead in 73 seats and the BJP in over 53 as votes for elections to District Development Councils in Jammu and Kashmir were counted on Tuesday.
People's Conference Parmeet Kour wins Rafiabad seat. “Parmeet Kour JKPC wins Rafiabad DDC seat. My profound congratulations to Miss Parmeet Kour and to the secular traditions of our region,” JKPC chairman Sajad Lone tweets.
The counting for the DDC polls has been completed in Srinagar with the independent candidates winning half of the seats.
"The returning officers in Srinagar district have declared the results of District Development Council elections in all the 14 constituencies and handed over election certificates to winning candidates," District Election Officer (Deputy Commissioner) Srinagar, Shahid Choudhary was quoted saying by PTI.
He said as per the final results, independent candidates have been declared winners in seven constituencies: Srinagar-I, Qamarwari-I, Qamarwari-II, Harwan-I, Harwan-II, Harwan-IV and Harwan-VI.
Former finance minister Altaf Bukhari-led Jammu and Kashmir Apni Party (JKAP) candidates were declared winners in three constituencies: Harwan-V, Khanmoh-I and Srinagar-III.
Four political parties-- BJP in Khanmoh-II, PDP in Khanmoh-III, NC in Harwan-III and JKPM in Srinagar II have won one seat each.
The BJP on Tuesday won an election for the first time from any seat in Kashmir while facing regional heavyweights like the National Conference and the PDP.
Aijaz Hussain won the Khonmoh-II District Development Council seat in Srinagar, while Aijaz Ahmad Khan gave the party more reason to cheer by winning the Tulail seat in Bandipora district.
"This is a win for the BJP. The propaganda has been bust as people have shown their faith in the prime minister and his policies. This is a message that nationalists are prospering in Kashmir," Hussain told reporters outside the counting centre at SKICC in Srinagar. (PTI)
"This was expected. People have shown their support. I'll be working for the development in the area," Parvaiz was quoted saying by ANI.
BJP's Aijaz Hussain celebrates victory in DDC polls.
PDP youth president Waheed Para, who is in custody of the National Investigation Agency for alleged links with militants, on Tuesday won the District Development Council (DDC) elections from Pulwama district in Jammu and Kashmir. Para defeated BJP candidate Sajad Ahmad Raina.
Jammu Deputy Commissioner Sushma Chauhan Tuesday said that no victory processions will be allowed by political parties and independent candidates without permission. “Restrictive and prohibitory measures have been put in place,” she said.
“BJP has opened its account in Kashmir valley, with the victory of Azaz Hussain. We are leading on several other seats in the Valley. It shows people of Kashmir valley want development,” BJP leader Shahnawaz Hussain was quoted as saying by ANI on DDC poll results.
The BJP has so far won two seats in the valley. The party has won one seat in Srinagar and one in Tulail Bandipore.
As per trends, the newly floated Jammu and Kashmir Apni Party (JKAP)is leading at one seat in Samba and three in Reasi district.
Meanwhile, the Dogra Swabhiman Sangathan, which was floated by former minister Choudhary Lal Singh who had quit the BJP, is also leading at one seat in Kathua district.
Of trends available in 108 constituencies by 2 pm, BJP was leading in 53 seats, National Conference 20 seats, Congress 13 seats, Jammu Kashmir Apni Party 4 seats, Jammu Kashmir National Panthers Party 2 seats, Dogra Swabhiman Sangathan on one seat and independents were leading on 14 seats.
The DDC polls hold significance since in the absence of elected representatives this is the first exercise to elect representatives to a governing body since the 2014 Assembly elections. The Ministry of Home Affairs on October 16 through an amendment to the Jammu and Kashmir Panchayati Raj Act, 1989, provided for the establishment of the DDCs.
This system effectively replaces the District Planning and Development Boards in all districts and will prepare and approve District plans and use of capital expenditure. The key feature, however, is that the DDCs will have elected representatives from each district. Their number has been specified at 14 elected members per district representing its rural areas alongside the Members of Legislative Assembly chairpersons of all Block Development Councils within the district.
The BJP has made gains in Bandipora's Gurez area with leads in two seats. PDP leader Waheed Para, under arrest for his alleged links with militants, was leading in his Pulwama constituency by a huge margin. (PTI)
The leads in the DDC polls show that the People's Alliance for Gupkar Declaration (PAGD) is set to win the majority of the seats in Kashmir valley as the Centre backed Jammu and Kashmir Apni Party has failed to make a mark.
Of the 113 leads so far, the People's Alliance is ahead on 67 seats (National Conference 28 and People's Democratic Party 25) in valley followed by the independent candidates leading on 28 seats. In South Kashmir, the Alliance candidates are set to sweep the polls as they are leading on 34 (NC 15, PDP 14 and CPIM 5) out of the 49 seats declared so far. While the independents are leading on 10 seats, Congress is ahead on 5 seats.
The Alliance candidates are again leading in the three districts of central Kashmir - Srinagar, Budgam and Gabderbal. The official figures reveal that the alliance candidates are ahead on 20 (NC 11 and PDP 7) out of the 30 leads declared so far. While the independents are ahead on 7 seats, Altaf Bukhari led JKAP is leading on two seats.
The North Kashmir has thrown a mixed result with Alliance candidates ahead on 13 out of 34 leads declared so far. The Alliance is followed by independent candidates leading on 11 seats. The BJP is also leading on two seats in North Kashmir.
The Bukhari-led Apni Party, which was formed by the rebel political leaders of different mainstream political parties and is backed by the centre has failed to make any mark. The party is leading only on six seats in the valley so far.
Among the 2178 candidates in the fray, BJP has the highest, 183 candidates in the contest by any single party. The NC, PDP, PC, CPIM and JKPM combine together known as the People’s Alliance for Gupkar Declaration (PAGD) fielded over 220 candidates across districts. Meanwhile, co-signatory to the Gupkar declaration, but not part of the Alliance, Congress, had 118 candidates in the fray.
BJP is followed by 134 from the newly formed J&K Apni Party and then the 132 from the National Conference, 67 in the Kashmir region. The Mehbooba Mufti-led PDP has 63 candidates, the majority of which (52) are in the valley. People’s Conference headed by Sajad Lone has 11 candidates in the fray, all within Kashmir. The CPIM also had seven candidates in the fray for this year’s DDC elections. Additionally, there are over 1000 independents contesting for a place in the DDCs.
Counting stopped in Draugmulla territorial constituency of Kupwara over the nationality of one of the candidates. Somia Sadaf, originally a resident of Muzaffarabad, who came to the valley with her militant husband under the rehabilitation policy, is contesting the elections from Drugmulla.
Out of the 76 leads in Kashmir valley, the People's Alliance is leading on 48 seats (NC 21, PDP 16, PC 5, CPIM 4, People's Movement 2) while independents are leading on 16 seats. BJP is leading on two seats, Congress in five and Apni Party on 3 seats
In South Kashmir's Anantnag district National Conference, Congress and independents are leading at two places each while PDP at one. In neighbouring Kulgam district, NC is leading at 5, CPIM at 4, and independent 2. PDP and Apni party at leading at one place each
Jammu Deputy Commissioner Sushma Chauhan said the administration will not allow any victory rally or procession at the venue of the counting site. Outside the counting venue, the victory rallies or processions will be allowed only with the prior permission of the administration so that adequate security arrangements are put in place to avoid any untoward incident, she added.
Early trends in the counting of votes for the District Development Council (DDC) elections in Jammu and Kashmir on Tuesday gave the Gupkar alliance an edge. The Gupkar alliance was leading in 10 of the 25 DDC seats for which trends were available. The BJP was leading in six seats followed by the Apni Party (three) and Congress (Two), news agency PTI reported.