The Farooq Abdullah-led People’s Alliance for Gupkar Declaration (PAGD) has won big by capturing 13 districts along with Congress. The BJP has won in six districts in Jammu.
In the first District Development Council (DDC) election in Jammu and Kashmir since the abrogation of article 370 and bifurcation of the state in two union territories, the Farooq Abdullah-led People’s Alliance for Gupkar Declaration (PAGD) has won big by capturing 13 districts along with Congress. The BJP has won in six districts in Jammu.
People’s Alliance For Gupkar declaration (PAGD), a grouping of regional parties including the National Conference and Mehbooba Mufti’s People’s Democratic Party (PDP), has won more than 100 seats; the BJP has emerged as the single largest party with 74 seats. The Congress has won 26 seats.
Voting was held in 280 seats, with 14 seats each in 20 districts of the union territory.
The outcome of the polls may be used as a sort of referendum by both political sections, for and against the constitutional changes in Jammu and Kashmir.
The Gupkar alliance, however, was not seen campaigning for the poll. Farooq Abdullah, Omar Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti did not campaign even once for their candidates. The alliance had also alleged that their candidates have been kept in security enclosures and not allowed to campaign on the pretext of security concerns.
After the poll results were declared, noting that the people of J&K have spoken up, former CM and NC leader Omar Abdullah said: “The trends that have emerged in the DDC polls in J&K are very encouraging for the @JKPAGD. The BJP had made this election a prestige issue about Art 370 & J&K’s special status. The people have now spoken & it’s for those who believe in democracy to pay heed to these voices.”
All of us in the @JKPAGD are deeply indebted & grateful to the people of J&K for your support at this critical juncture. We reaffirm our commitment to use all democratic & legal weapons at our disposal to continue to fight for our rights.
— Omar Abdullah (@OmarAbdullah) December 22, 2020
After victory, invoking the issue of abrogation of Article 370, former CM and PDP leader Mehbooba Mufti said: “Todays DDC results have made it clear that people of J&K voted en masse for @JKPAGD thus rejecting the unconstitutional decision to abrogate Article 370. They have overwhelmingly supported @JKPAGD which stands for restoration of J&Ks special status.”
Even after a split in PDP engineered by GOI & all the attempts to write us off, my cadre worked day & night to ensure party’s victory. I am extremely grateful to them.
— Mehbooba Mufti (@MehboobaMufti) December 22, 2020
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