Jammu and Kashmir’s Political Shift In the first legislative elections since India’s revocation of Kashmir’s semi-autonomy five years ago, the Jammu and Kashmir National Conference (NC) emerged as the dominant force, winning the most seats in the 90-member Legislative Assembly. The NC secured 42 seats, marking a significant political victory.

Election Overview The elections, held in three phases starting on September 18, saw the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) win 29 seats, while the Indian National Congress (INC), which formed an alliance with the NC, secured 6 seats. The NC’s success has been seen as a public verdict against the central government’s controversial decision to revoke the region’s special status.

Political Implications Omar Abdullah, NC’s leader and former Chief Minister, expressed that the overwhelming support will push the party to prove itself worthy of the people’s trust. His father, Farooq Abdullah, emphasized the NC-led alliance’s focus on restoring political freedoms and ensuring media independence, adding that they would work towards reducing the “police raj” in the region.

Controversy Over Special Status The elections are seen as a de facto referendum on the central government’s decision to strip Jammu and Kashmir of its special status in 2019. The revocation resulted in the downgrading of the state into two union territories—Ladakh and Jammu-Kashmir—governed directly by the central government, a move that has remained highly contentious.

Local and National Reactions Despite the NC-led victory, critics argue that the new assembly retains limited powers, with the central government retaining control over key areas like education and governance, and the power to appoint governors. While the NC-led alliance celebrates its win, questions remain over the future of Jammu and Kashmir’s political rights.

BJP’s Performance in Jammu and Kashmir The BJP won all of its seats in Jammu, a region with a Hindu-majority population. Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed pride in the BJP’s performance, attributing it to the people’s belief in democracy.

Haryana Elections In a separate legislative election held in Haryana, the BJP appeared set for a third consecutive term in office. Preliminary results indicated that the BJP was leading in 50 constituencies, while Congress trailed behind with 35 seats. Despite predictions of an easy victory for Congress, the BJP has thus far won 18 seats and is leading in 32 constituencies.