J&K Polls: 35 political parties failed to win a single seat

As the 11th Assembly elections returned a fractured verdict, 35 out of the 43 political parties that were in fray failed to win a single seat.

As the 11th Jammu and Kashmir Assembly elections returned a fractured verdict, 35 out of the 43 political parties that were in fray failed to win a single seat.

“Out of 43 political parties in fray, only eight have won different number of seats in the elections and 35 parties got a big zero,” Election Department officials said.

A record number of 1354 candidates, including 517 independents, contested the seven-phased assembly elections in the state, having an 87-member assembly.

While three national parties – BJP, Congress and CPI (M) – and five regional parties – NC, PDP, JKNPP, People Democratic Front (PDF) and J&K Democratic Party National (JKDPN) – won 87 seats together, 750 candidates fielded by 35 outfits lost the hustings, the officials said.

The National Conference headed by Omar Abdullah topped the list with 28 seats, followed by Mufti Mohammed Sayeed’s PDP (21), Congress (17) and BJP (11), The CPI (M), PDF and JKDPN have all won one seat each.

The Mayawati-led Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), had fielded the second highest number of 83 candidates, but failed to bag a single seat.

Similarly, Lok Janshakti Party had unsuccessfully fielded candidates in 45 assembly constituencies, Samajwadi Party in 34 seats and All India Forward Block in 21.

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Same is the case with Nationalistic Congress Party (19 candidates), Samta Party and Rashtriya Janata Dal (14 each), Jammu State Morcha (13), Socialistic Democratic Party (12), Bhartiya Bahujan Party (10) and Democratic Party, Rashtriya Krantikari Samajwadi Party and CPI (seven each).

National parties, which comprise the BJP, Congress, BSP, CPI (M), CPI, and NCP, fielded 273 candidates together while regional parties like NC, PDP, ANC, JKNPP and PDF gave tickets to 236 aspirants, the Election Department officials said.

Besides, other small regional outfits put up 258 candidates followed by parties of other states with 70 candidates, they said.