Jammu And Kashmir Assembly Election Results 2024: Prospects For NC-Congress And PDP Alliance

The National Conference (NC) and the Congress jointly fought the J&K Assembly elections. Under the seat-sharing agreement, NC contested for 51 seats out of 90 J&K seats while Congress on 32 seats. Both parties are also running a friendly fight at 5 other seats.

As per the exit polls NC-Congress combine has forecasted to win the elections despite their forecast of a hung house. However, this is to be seen if the alliance secures enough seats to make a government in the region.

The stakes are high for Mehbooba Mufti-led Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). In 2014, the PDP emerged as the single-largest party but with a short majority. However, it allied with the BJP to form a coalition government. The BJP withdrew is support in June 2018 and central rule was imposed on J&K since then. After the abrogation of Article 370, the Jammu and Kasmir special status went away in August 2019.

In the current polls, it is predicted that the PDP, a constituent of the INDIA bloc play a significant role if the NC-Congress alliance falls short of an absolute majority. However, NC unwillingness can cause a friction here to make a natural alliance with the PDP.

Engineer Rashid’s party sprang a surprise when he defeated NC vice-president and ex-chief Minister Omar Abdullah and Peoples Conference (PC) chief Sajad Lone to clinch Baramulla seat.