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Saffron Wave in Jammu & Kashmir: BJP wins most seats in the Union Territory, but loses to ‘Seven-Party’ Gupkar Alliance

Screenshot 2020 12 23 094435

The Jammu and Kashmir state election authority has so far announced the results for 276 of the 280 seats that went to polls.

Party wise in the ‘seven party’ PAGD, the NC has won 67 seats, the PDP 27, JKPC 8 and CPIM 5 seats. The independents have won 49 and Congress 26 seats, among others.

BJP won 74 seats while the Centre-backed JK Apni Party has won 12 seats so far, according to the authority.

A total of 2,178 candidates were contesting in these elections – the first since the erstwhile state lost its special status under the Constitution on August 5, 2019. Each of the 20 districts were divided into 14 segments.

BJP’s election-in-charge for the Valley, Syed Shahnawaz Hussain, said the overwhelming participation of the people of the region in the polls showed a clear sign that they believe in democratic procedure rather than “bullet and grenade”.

It is interesting to note that the number of votes for BJP (4,87,364) are more than the total votes for National Conference, PDP and Congress which is a clear indication that people of Jammu and Kashmir trust BJP way more than the other parties.

Voting for the elections was held in eight phases over a period of 25 days. The elections are a step to setting up district development councils, a new addition to Jammu and Kashmir’s panchayati raj system.

The directly elected district councils will replace the district development boards originally envisaged as the third tier of local government by the 1989 Jammu and Kashmir Panchayati Raj Act. The boards were to consist of the block council chiefs, local MPs, MLAs and municipal council members. But Jammu and Kashmir’s legislative Assembly was dissolved after August 5 last year.

Each district council will have five standing committees – one each for finance, development, public works, health and education, and welfare. While they might look after the day to day and developmental needs of the district, members of the council have no say on larger political issues such as special status, land laws and industrial policy.

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