The results of the Jammu & Kashmir Assembly elections were announced on Tuesday. BJP succeeded in 29 seats, but the state president, Ravinder Raina, faced defeat in the Nowshera assembly constituency of Rajouri district. Reacting to the results, he stated that he has accepted the people's verdict.
According to the Election Commission (EC) website, Raina garnered 27,250 votes, losing to Surinder Choudhary of the National Conference by a margin of 7,819 votes. Choudhary acquired 35,069 votes. Speaking to PTI, Raina mentioned, "I have embraced the decision made by the people and express gratitude for their support."
Grateful for the show of support towards BJP, the 47-year-old party leader expressed, "We thank the people of Jammu and Kashmir for voting for and supporting the BJP. The party has reached an unprecedented milestone by winning a record 29 assembly seats. We sincerely thank the voters. The loss at the Nowshera constituency is a setback. We accept the people's decision. However, we are astounded by the overwhelming results in the elections where BJP secured the largest vote share in Jammu & Kashmir."
It's noteworthy that Raina first reached the Jammu & Kashmir assembly as an MLA from the Nowshera constituency at the age of 37. Earlier, at the age of 34, he was elected as the president of the Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJP's youth wing) and later became the president of the Jammu & Kashmir BJP at the age of 41. This election marks the first time BJP has won 29 seats in the Jammu & Kashmir assembly.
