Jammu and Kashmir Leaders Confident Ahead of Assembly Election Results

Srinagar: On the eve of the counting of votes for the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly polls, top leaders from the Congress-National Conference (NC) alliance, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), and the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) have expressed confidence in securing enough seats to form the next government in the Union Territory.

The Congress-NC alliance, which contested the elections together, remains hopeful of crossing the majority mark of 46 seats in the 90-member Assembly. Meanwhile, the BJP, relying on a combination of independents and like-minded groups, aims to be the single largest party. The PDP, led by Mehbooba Mufti, asserted that any future government would be secular and could not be formed without its support.

Congress-NC Optimistic About Majority

The Congress-NC alliance believes they are in a strong position to form the next government. Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC) chief Tariq Hameed Karra expressed optimism, stating, “We are confident of forming the government in Jammu and Kashmir.” Karra emphasized that the alliance had anticipated this result since the beginning of the electoral campaign and believed that the people of Jammu and Kashmir had voted in their favor.

Rattan Lal Gupta, NC’s provincial president for the Jammu region, echoed Karra’s sentiments. He said, “Most exit polls have given a clear mandate to the NC-Congress alliance with over 53 seats.” Gupta is hopeful that the alliance would secure 20 to 24 seats in the Jammu region alone, strengthening their overall position.

BJP Eyes Independent Support

On the other side, Jammu and Kashmir BJP chief Ravinder Raina is confident that his party will emerge as the single largest entity in the Assembly. Raina predicted that the BJP would win 35 seats and would rely on independent candidates and like-minded groups to surpass the majority mark.

“We are confident of winning 35 seats in Jammu and Kashmir, and with the support of independents and like-minded groups who will secure around 15 seats, we will surpass the majority mark,” Raina told reporters. He emphasized that the people had endorsed the BJP’s vision for development and peace, with strong public support being evident from the “large crowds” at the rallies of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah.

Raina was also dismissive of the Congress-NC alliance’s chances, predicting a “crushing” defeat for them.

PDP Claims Secular Government Only Possible With Its Support

Mehbooba Mufti, chief of the PDP, insisted that no government would be formed in Jammu and Kashmir without her party’s support. “The government will be secular… without the PDP’s support, no government will be formed in Jammu and Kashmir. There will never be a BJP government in the region,” Mufti asserted. Her statement hints at the possibility of the PDP playing a pivotal role in the formation of a coalition government, especially if the Congress-NC alliance falls short of a clear majority.

Heavy Security in Place for Vote Count

With vote counting on, security has been ramped up at all 20 counting centres and district headquarters across Jammu and Kashmir. This assembly election is of significant importance, being the first since the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019, which altered the region’s political landscape and constitutional status. The Election Commission has ensured that security measures are in place to prevent any disruption during the vote count.

As political leaders and their parties prepare for the results, the people of Jammu and Kashmir are eagerly awaiting the outcome of this historic election, which will define the future of governance in the region.