An alliance between Jammu and Kashmir’s oldest political party and India’s Congress secured victory in the recent election, symbolizing a public referendum on India’s decision to revoke the region’s political autonomy in 2019.
The National Conference-Congress alliance emerged victorious in the 90-seat local assembly, marking the return of elected governance in Indian-administered Kashmir after six years. With 48 seats, they are poised to form the first elected government in the region, with National Conference winning 42 seats and Congress securing six.
The election signifies a partial shift of power back to the local assembly from New Delhi, as Jammu and Kashmir will remain a union territory under direct federal control. The loss of autonomy and perceived disempowerment were pivotal concerns for voters, especially in the Kashmir province.
Omar Abdullah as CM candidate
Farooq Abdullah announced that his son, Omar Abdullah, will be the alliance’s chief ministerial candidate. Omar, winning from two constituencies, promised to fulfill the people’s expectations amidst several political upsets in the region.
Notably, the People’s Democratic Party’s decline in performance was attributed to past coalition decisions with the BJP. The election also saw surprising outcomes, including Engineer Rashid’s win while in jail, sparking controversy regarding potential vote division tactics.