By winning 75 seats, three for the first time from Kashmir valley and 72 from across its strong bastion of Jammu region, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has emerged as the single largest party garnering around 25 per cent total vote share of the total votes polled in the District Development Council polls.
On the other hand, the People’s Alliance for Gupkar Declaration (PAGD) may have won 112 seats but it fell way behind BJP, securing around 22 per cent total vote share.
Indian National Congress, which won 26 seats, seven from Kashmir valley and 17 from Jammu, garnered over 13 per cent total vote share while securing 3,94,575 votes in the DDC polls.
Significantly, the biggest chunk of 32 per cent votes was polled in favour of the Independent candidates across Jammu & Kashmir.
Out of 20 District Development councils, these candidates are going to play the role of ‘kingmakers in the five district development councils of Rajouri, Poonch, Ramban, Kishtwar and Srinagar. A total number of 50 independents have won these polls, 20 from Jammu and 30 from Kashmir region.
According to the vote percentage data shared by the State Election Commission after the declaration of the poll results, the BJP has topped the chart. It garnered 708714 votes (24.82 per cent) of the total votes polled. According to the State Election Commission, a total number of 28,55,509 votes were polled in the DDC polls.
Out of 75 seats, BJP won 72 from Jammu region and opened its account for the first time in Kashmir by winning three seats, one each from Srinagar, Pulwama and Bandipur districts.
On the other hand, Jammu and Kashmir National Conference party won 67 seats, 25 from Jammu and 42 from Kashmir region. The total vote share garnered by the party was 16.46 per cent. The party candidates secured 4,70,099 votes across Jammu & Kashmir.
The National Conference had contested around 60 seats in Kashmir, while PDP contested 45, Peoples Conference 13, JKPM 6, CPI(M), Awami National Conference 5.
Another important constituent of the PAGD, JKPDP polled 1,13,175 votes which is 3.96 per cent of the total votes polled.
The Jammu and Kashmir APNI party, won 12 seats, three from Jammu region and 9 from Kashmir valley, secured 5.30 percent votes and garnered 1,51,331 total votes.