SRINAGAR: The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), which emerged as single largest party in the Assembly elections, has managed to hold its stronghold in South Kashmir and wrested Srinagar from National Conference while BJP, which swept polls in Jammu, could not open its account in Valley and Ladakh.
At least 15 ministers including Chief Minister Omar Abdullah lost their elections in the State.
The five-phase elections for 87-member J&K Assembly concluded on December 20 and counting of votes was held today. PDP got 28 seats followed by BJP with 25 seats, NC 15 seats and Congress 12 seats. CPI (M) got one seats, People Conference of Sajjad Gani Lone won two seats, and four other independent candidates also won.
PDP, which emerged as single largest party, retained its stronghold in twin districts of South Kashmir – Pulwama and Shopian. The party won all the six seats from the two districts.
PDP won all four seats in Pulwama and two seats of Shopian. Zahoor Ahmad Mir and Khalil Ahmad Band won third terms from Pampore and Pulwama constituencies respectively.
Three debutants Muhammad Yousuf Mir, Aijaz Ahmad Mir and economist Dr Haseeb Drabu won from Shopian, Wachi and Rajpora assembly seats respectively.
The party made strong inroads in Srinagar district, considered stronghold of National Conference.
NC represented all eight seats from the districts in the outgoing Assembly. However, in this election, there number has been reduced to three only.
PDP wrested Sonawar, Batamaloo, Amira Kadal, Hazratbal and Zadibal seats from the NC.
From Sonawar seat, PDP’s Mohammad Ashraf Mir defeated Chief Minister Omar Abdullah while in Hazratbal Asia Naqash defeated NC’s Mohammad Sayeed Akhoon. It was first defeat of NC candidate from the seat ever since elections were held in the State.
15 Ministers Lost Elections
15 ministers – eight from Congress, six from NC including Chief Minister and Agriculture minister from Democratic Party Nationalist (DPN) lost the elections.
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah lost election from Sonawar constituency in Srinagar to PDP’s Mohammad Ashraf Mir. He, however, won elections from Beerwah seat in central Kashmir’s Budgam district.
NC’s heavyweight and Finance Minister Abdur Rahim Rather lost elections from Chrar-e-sharif seat. He has won the elections from the seat for six terms and was seeking election for 7th term.
Senior Congress leader and Deputy Chief Minister Tara Chand lost elections to BJP’s candidate from Chhamb constituency. He had won elections thrice from the seat and was seeking 4th term.
Besides Tara, other Congress ministers who lost the elections include Health Minister Taj Mohiuddin, Tourism Minister Ghulam Ahmad Mir, Horticulture Minister Raman Bhalla, PHE minister Sham Lal Sharma, Cooperatives Minister Manohar Lal Sharma, R&B Minister Abdul Majid Wani and Haj and Auqaf Minister Peerzada Mohammad Sayeed.
Apart from CM and Rather, other NC ministers who had to bite the dust include Social Welfare Minister Sakina Itoo, Law Minister Mir Saifullah, CAPD Minister Choudhary Mohammad Ramzan, Planning Minister Ajay Kumar Sadhotra.
Agriculture minister and DPN leader Ghulam Hassain Mir lost elections from Gulmarg constituency.
No Lotus in Ladakh, Valley
The saffron party BJP failed to open its account in Kashmir and Ladakh.
Although the party had contested most of 46-seats in Valley and all four seats in Ladakh, the party went blank. It could not win a single seat in Muslim Valley and Ladakh. The only realistic chance for BJP to win from Valley was from Habba Kadal constituency, where the saffron party was banking on over 16000 migrant Kashmiri Pandit votes. But the migrant KPs did not vote in large numbers thus playing spoilsport with BJP’s chances.
NC’s Shamim Firdous won Habba Kadal constituency by securing 4955 votes while BJP’s Moti Koul stood at second position by getting 2596 votes. PDP’s Zafar Meraj got only 992 votes.
The saffron party won all its 25 seats from Jammu region, which had 36 Assembly seats.
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