Srinagar: In a significant political development, the recent assembly elections in Occupied Jammu and Kashmir have ended in a substantial defeat for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which failed to secure any seats in the Muslim-majority Kashmir valley. The elections marked a notable victory for the National Conference (NC) and its ally, the Indian National Congress (INC), who together secured enough seats to form the next government.

According to Kashmir Media Service, the election results revealed that the National Conference, led by Farooq Abdullah, won 42 seats in a legislative house of 90. Its ally, the Indian National Congress, captured six seats. The combined tally enables the NC and INC to establish a coalition government. Farooq Abdullah has announced that his son, Omar Abdullah, will take the office of chief minister. Meanwhile, the BJP, despite a strong showing in the Hindu-majority Jammu region with 29 seats, did not win any seats in the Kashmir valley, despite fielding candidates in 19 constituencies.

The assembly elections, the first in a decade, were conducted under tight security and followed the 2019 abrogation of articles 370 and 35-A of the Indian constitution, which had granted special status to the region. This change had also led to a severe lockdown, including internet and social media restrictions, and numerous arrests.

The election outcome is seen as a rebuff to the policies of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his party, which are often viewed as driven by a Hindu nationalist agenda. The BJP’s attempt to influence the Muslim vote in Kashmir through various candidates proved ineffective, as demonstrated by the performance of Engineer Rashid’s Awami Ittehad Party, which managed to win only one seat.

Following the victory, NC leader Farooq Abdullah emphasized the mandate his party received to govern without oppressive police measures and to strive for the release of political detainees. His son, Omar Abdullah, pointed out their goal to restore the statehood status of Jammu and Kashmir, acknowledging the limited powers they would have under the current union territory status.

Observers note that these elections might also reflect Modi’s weakened influence following a recent general election setback, highlighting ongoing challenges in resolving the Kashmir dispute. The election results may also impact future attempts by the BJP to alter the demographic and political landscape of the region.