The counting of votes for the 90 assembly seats in Jammu and Kashmir is complete. According to the Election Commission, the National Conference and Congress alliance has hit the majority mark, winning 49 seats. Meanwhile, the BJP has won 29 seats. Mehbooba Mufti's PDP has been reduced to three seats. Independents and smaller parties have secured 10 seats.
According to the results, BJP's victory was confined to Jammu. Out of the 43 seats in the Jammu region, BJP won 29. However, it failed to secure any seats in the Kashmir Valley.
In the 2014 assembly elections, BJP won all 25 of its seats in Jammu, failing to win a single seat in Kashmir.
To form its first chief minister in Jammu and Kashmir, BJP needed to win at least 30 to 35 seats alone in Jammu and perform well in the Valley, which it couldn't achieve.
This raises the question: why didn't the BJP's promises of a 'New Kashmir' and the abrogation of Article 370 translate into electoral gains?
Misinterpretation of Article 370?
In August 2019, the central government abrogated Article 370, stripping Jammu and Kashmir of its special status and converting it into a union territory. Following these changes, several restrictions were imposed in Jammu and Kashmir for months.
As the situation began to normalize, the Modi government promised a 'New Kashmir' based on development, jobs, and security. However, the efforts to compensate for the losses endured by the people post-Article 370 abrogation were minimal.
On the other hand, Farooq Abdullah's National Conference and Mehbooba Mufti's PDP linked Article 370 to 'Kashmiri identity,' labeling its abrogation as anti-Kashmir. It is believed that a large population in Jammu, alongside Kashmir, still opposes the removal of Article 370.
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Did Anti-Separatist Actions Backfire?
Under the 'New Kashmir' slogan, BJP emphasized security. The government took action against terrorism, separatism, and stone-pelting, which was welcomed by many. However, there was also a sense that freedom of expression was being suppressed.
There was a prevailing notion that dissent was being stifled through intimidation. This perception hindered BJP's emergence in the Kashmir Valley as anticipated.
Source: aajtak
Unfulfilled Promises of Jobs!
Following the conversion of Kashmir into a union territory, BJP promised to address discontent through job creation. It also pledged to bring investment into Kashmir to create jobs. However, these promises were not fulfilled as expected, leading to increased public dissatisfaction.
Allies Also Struggled
In an attempt to gain electoral advantages, BJP allied with parties like Altaf Bukhari's Apni Party and Sajjad Lone’s People’s Conference to counter the dominance of National Conference and PDP. However, these alliances didn’t prove significantly beneficial for BJP.
What Were the 2014 Results?
The last assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir were held in 2014. Out of the 87 seats, PDP secured 28, BJP won 25, National Conference obtained 15, and Congress won 12 seats. BJP and PDP formed a coalition government, with Mufti Mohammad Sayeed as the chief minister.
In January 2016, Mufti Mohammad Sayeed passed away. The state witnessed governor's rule for about four months. Later, his daughter Mehbooba Mufti became the chief minister. However, the alliance didn’t last long. On June 19, 2018, BJP broke its alliance with PDP, leading to governor's rule in the state. Currently, it is under president's rule.
