J&K DDC poll results | Gupkar Alliance wins 96 seats in DDC polls in J&K

BJP emerges as single largest party by winning 70 seats

December 22, 2020 10:38 am | Updated December 23, 2020 06:35 am IST - Srinagar

The Gupkar Alliance, an amalgam of six regional parties, including the National Conference (NC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), on Tuesday emerged as the frontrunner in the maiden District Development Council (DDC) polls in Jammu and Kashmir, while the BJP was the single largest party.

A total of 2,178 candidates contested for 280 seats, with each of the 20 districts divided into 14 segments. As per results announced for 244 seats till late on Tuesday, the Alliance won 96 seats and the BJP 70.

While the NC won 56 seats, the PDP, which saw a major split after the abrogation of J&K’s special status, won 26. The Congress bagged 21 seats, and the CPI(M) won five.

The recently floated Apni Party won 10 seats, followed by six seats by the Peoples Conference, three seats by the People’s movement, two by the National Panthers’ Party, one seat each by the BSP and the Peoples Democratic Front (PDF). As many as 43 Independents registered victory.

The NC emerged as the single largest party in the Kashmir Valley and the BJP in the Jammu region. For the first time, the BJP won three seats from the Valley’s Srinagar, Pulwama and Bandipora districts.

Except for Srinagar, where Independents won seven seats and the Apni Party three, the Alliance is likely to take the post of chairpersons in nine districts of the Kashmir Valley.

In Jammu, the BJP is likely to have chairpersons in Samba, Kathua, Jammu, Udhampur and Doda districts. The Pir Panjal Valley and the Chenab Valley, comprising the districts of Doda, Bhaderwah, Kishtwar, Rajouri and Poonch, in the Jammu region saw scattered polling.

‘Clear message’

The regional parties described the results as people’s verdict against the Centre’s decision to scrap the special status of J&K in August last year.

“The DDC election results are encouraging. The result is a clear message of the people that they don’t accept the changes made by the BJP on Article 370. We have faced every obstacle, illegal detentions, agency threats and pressures, our candidates were locked up to stop them campaigning and from all this we are emerging victorious,” NC vice-president Omar Abdullah said.

In a series of tweets, Ms. Mufti said: “DDC results have made it clear that people of J&K voted en masse for the PAGD thus rejecting the unconstitutional decision to abrogate Article 370. They have overwhelmingly supported PAGD, which stands for restoration of J&Ks special status.”

The BJP, however, described the results as a “victory for democracy” and said it was “significant for the party to establish base in Kashmir too”.

“There were forces who did not want democracy to take roots in Kashmir. First and foremost, the DDC elections is a win for democracy. Two, the BJP party that had around 5,000 votes in Kashmir has over 3.5 lakh membership today and was evident from the victories there,” senior BJP leader and former Deputy Chief Minister Kavinder Gupta said.

Congress candidate and former Minister Taj Mohiuddin, who was booked by the Central Bureau of Investigation, under the alleged land grabbing case, also won from Baramulla’s Uri.

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