Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah expressed optimism on Tuesday as early trends from the Assembly elections suggested a positive outcome for the National Conference (NC).
Abdullah, who is also the party’s Vice President, shared his sentiments on X, wishing his colleagues and allies good luck as results began to unfold.
He stated, “Here’s wishing all my colleagues and allies the very best of luck for today. We fought the good fight & now, InshaAllah, the results will reflect that.”
Here’s wishing all my colleagues and allies the very best of luck for today. We fought the good fight & now, InshaAllah, the results will reflect that.
— Omar Abdullah (@OmarAbdullah) October 8, 2024
Omar Abdullah Leads In Budgam; NC’s Sagar & Lone Also Perform Strongly
As of the latest updates, Abdullah is leading in the Budgam Assembly seat, a significant constituency in the region, while also contesting from Ganderbal.
In the Budgam constituency, early trends indicated strong performances not just from Abdullah but also from fellow NC leader Ali Mohammad Sagar, who is leading in Khanyar, and Sajad Gani Lone from the People’s Conference, who is ahead in Kupwara.
The counting of votes commenced at 8 AM for all 90 Assembly seats across 20 districts of Jammu and Kashmir.
As the political fates of 873 candidates hang in the balance, initial reports suggest that the BJP is leading in 18 seats, while the NC-Congress alliance is showing strength with leads in 14 seats, and the PDP is ahead in one constituency.
28 Counting Centres Established For Vote Tally; Postal Ballots Counted First
The electoral landscape in Jammu and Kashmir includes 90 assembly seats, comprising 9 reserved for Scheduled Tribes (ST) and 7 for Scheduled Castes (SC).
Chief Electoral Officer PK Pole announced that 28 counting centres have been established across the Union Territory to manage the vote tally, with postal ballots being counted first.
In a significant aspect of the Assembly structure, Lt Governor Manoj Sinha is likely to nominate five additional members to the J&K Assembly based on recommendations from the Ministry of Home Affairs.
This includes two women, two Migrant Kashmiri Pandits (with at least one being a woman), and a representative of West Pakistan refugees.
These nominated members will possess voting rights during the government formation, making the majority threshold 48 seats for any political party or coalition to claim control of the assembly.
As the counting process progresses, the NC remains hopeful for a favorable outcome, reflecting the party’s commitment to the electoral process and the sentiments of the people in Jammu and Kashmir.
Also Read: Counting Begins In J&K: All Eyes On Results As 873 Candidates Await Fate