The BJP emerged the frontrunner in the urban local bodies elections in Jammu and Kashmir when votes were counted on Saturday, winning 100 wards in the volatile Kashmir Valley.
Of the 1,144 total wards in the entire State, the BJP won 312 against the Congress’s tally of 267.
The results declared by the State Election Commission showed that the BJP dominated the Jammu region by winning 212 of the 520 wards. The Congress won 110.
The BJP managed to win the Jammu Municipal Corporation, winning 43 of the 75 wards.
‘Victory of the people’
“This is the victory of the people as they have reposed their faith in us. We will continue to serve them to the best of our ability,” BJP State chief Ravinder Raina said while leading the celebrations at the party headquarters in Jammu.
In Kashmir, the Congress managed to win 157 wards out of 624, while the BJP won 100. Due to the boycott call by separatists and the decision of the two main regional parties, National Conference and People’s Democratic Party, to stay away from the polls, the BJP won 76 seats uncontested and Congress 78 in the Valley. The BJP has managed to win four municipal bodies in south Kashmir.
The impact of the raging violence and separatists’ boycott was evident from the fact that 185 wards remained vacant in the Kashmir Valley as no nominations were filed. These elections also saw the rise of Independent candidates, who significantly dominate the scene in the two regions. In Kashmir, 178 Independent candidates won, while in Jammu, 185 were victorious.
The Srinagar Municipal Corporation has a fractured mandate, with the Congress winning 16 wards, the BJP four and Independents 53. They now hold the key to the election of a Mayor.
Mattoo for Mayor?
Junaid Azim Mattoo, formerly associated with the National Conference, was declared the winner from the Rawalpora, Solina and Bud Dal wards in Srinagar.
He was congratulated by People’s Conference chief Sajjad Lone. Mr. Mattoo is tipped to contest for the Mayor’s post. “Change has come to Srinagar, a city that deserves the best for what it has witnessed and endured,” Mr. Mattoo said.
In Leh, the BJP suffered a setback with all the 13 wards being won by the Congress. The BJP failed to win any ward in Kargil where the Congress won six and Independents seven. The BJP and the Congress also witnessed their share of shocks. Former Deputy Chief Minister and BJP leader Kavinder Gupta’s elder brother as well as senior Congress senior leader Tariq Hameed Karra’s wife lost the elections.
