The eagerly awaited counting of votes in Jammu & Kashmir’s Assembly elections commenced on Tuesday at 8 AM, marking the beginning of a crucial day for the region.
Officials are counting votes for all 90 Assembly constituencies across 20 districts, determining the political future of 873 candidates, including prominent figures from various parties.
Among those awaiting the people’s verdict are senior leaders from the National Conference (NC), BJP, Congress, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), People’s Conference (PC), Apni Party, CPI(M), Awami Ittehad Party (AIP), as well as several Independent candidates.
Notable names in the fray include former Chief Minister and NC vice president Omar Abdullah, along with former Deputy Chief Ministers Muzaffar Hussain Beigh (PDP), Kavinder Gupta (BJP), and Tera Chand (Congress).
Other key candidates include ex-ministers Abdur Rahim Rather, Ali Mohammad Sagar, and Sakina Itoo from the NC, as well as PDP’s Ghulam Nabi Hanjura and Abdul Rehman Veeri.
Officials have set up 28 counting centres across the Union Territory to manage the high-stakes election tally.
Chief Electoral Officer PK Pole confirmed that the counting would begin with postal ballots.
The assembly comprises 90 seats, including 9 reserved for Scheduled Tribes (ST) and 7 for Scheduled Castes (SC).
Exit Polls Favor NC-Congress Alliance As Front-Runners
Exit polls however predict a strong showing for the NC-Congress alliance, positioning them as front-runners.
The BJP is expected to slightly improve its 2014 tally of 25 seats, while the PDP, which secured 28 seats in the last election, may see a sharp decline, with estimates suggesting fewer than 10 seats.
Emerging parties like People’s Conference, Apni Party, and Democratic Progressive Azad Party are not likely to make significant gains, with projections showing them and Independent candidates securing around 10 seats collectively.
A unique feature of this election is that Lt Governor Manoj Sinha will choose five nominated members for the Legislative Assembly based on recommendations from the Ministry of Home Affairs.
These members will include two women, two Migrant Kashmiri Pandits (one of whom will also be a woman), and a representative of the West Pakistan refugees.
As in Puducherry, these nominated members will hold voting rights in government formation, making a simple majority of 48 seats crucial for any party or coalition.
Authorities have tightened security throughout the region by imposing Section 144 around all counting centres. They have taken measures for potential victory processions and have ensured strict vigilance until the entire process concludes on 10 October.
This election, the first to take place after the abrogation of Article 370 and the reorganization of the state into two Union Territories – Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh – has seen a voter turnout of 63.45 per cent, slightly lower than the 65.52 per cent recorded in 2014.
Polling took place in three phases – 18 & 25 September, and 1 October. Now, the region awaits the final vote tallies, which are expected to shape Jammu & Kashmir’s political landscape for years to come.
Also Read: LIVE UPDATES: Counting For Haryana, J&K Commence At 8AM
