BJP faces worst defeat in Jammu & Kashmir assembly elections

SRINAGAR, Oct 8 (SABAH): Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) claims of bringing progress and development in Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) have crumbled as the party faced a crushing defeat in the recently held assembly elections with results announced on Tuesday.

According to media reports, despite extensive pro-poll rigging including awarding six additional seats to Hindu-dominated Jammu and only one to the Muslim-majority Kashmir Valley, reconfiguring constituencies and utilizing state machinery, the BJP secured just 29 seats out of a total of 90. Notably, the Zufrani Party failed to win a single seat in the valley.

This time the BJP was determined to impose its own chief minister in Occupied Kashmir so that it could make legislation according to its own will. To achieve its objectives, BJP used all tactics but eventually it failed.

The National Conference-Congress alliance triumphed with 49 seats, comprising 42 for the NC, six for Congress, and 1 for CPI-M. The Peoples’ Democratic Party claimed three seats, while both the People’s Conference and Aam Aadmi Party won one seat each. Additionally, independents secured seven seats.

It is noteworthy here that elections’ results exposed a significant disconnect between the BJP’s claims of winning the hearts of Kashmiris and the reality on the ground. They asserted that the anti-BJP vote reflects a rejection of the Modi government’s illegal actions on August 5, 2019, highlighting Kashmiris’ unwavering demand for a plebiscite under United Nations auspices to determine their political future.

The results demonstrate Kashmiris commitment to continue their mission until realized. These elections occurred after a decade and for the first time since IIOJK stripped of its special status in August 2019.