Jammu Kashmir Assembly elections 2024: Key candidates in fray

J&K Assembly elections update: NC-Congress alliance leads, BJP close behind, independents making their mark. Candidates and results detailed.

Story so far: Jammu-Kashmir Assembly’s 90 seats went to polls in three phases this September and October, ushering in autonomy to the Union territory which has been under the Centre’s rule since 2018. The results are currently being announced with the J&K National Conference – Congress alliance taking an early lead, closely followed by Bharatiya Janata Party. Independents too are making their mark as J&K People’s Democratic party comes in at a distant fifth.

Check the Live updates for Jammu and Kashmir election results

With 87 lakh electors casting their votes in the election across J&K, these elections will be the first to be held since 2014, when BJP and PDP allied to form a shaky coalition. This alliance ended in 2018, resulting in the legislature’s dissolution. Since the revocation of J&K’s special status, it has been reduced to two Union Territories. While J&K has a 90-seat legislative assembly, Ladakh has none, and both territories are headed by a Lieutenant-Governor.

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Prior to holding Assembly polls, the ECI conducted a delimitation exercise in 2022, where 43 seats were identified in the Jammu region while 47 in Kashmir valley. Moreover, nine Assembly seats — three in Kashmir, six in Jammu —were reserved for scheduled tribes. Moreover, one-third of the elected seats have been reserved for women, the Valmiki community has been included in the Scheduled Caste list in J&K while the Paharis in the Scheduled Tribes list.

Omar Abdullah (NC) – Ganderbal & Budgam

Vice-President of NC and former J&K CM, Omar Abdullah is one of the most vociferous opponents of the BJP-led NDA government, demanding restoration of J&K’s statehood and special status. He was defeated by Independent MP Engineer Rashid at Baramulla in the Lok Sabha elections in June. Contesting as front-runner for the CM seat, Mr. Abdullah is trying his luck in Ganderbal assembly constituency as well as Budgam. In Ganderbal faces PDP’s Bashir Ahmad Mir and Independent Ishfaq Ahmad Sheikh and in Budgam, he faces PDP’s Aga Syed Mutazir Mehdi