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Jammu & Kashmir: Electorate gives fractured mandate, political parties grapple for alternatives

Written By Pratik Mukane | Updated: Dec 23, 2014, 06:07 PM IST

Jammu and Kashmir on Tuesday returned a hung verdict with PDP as a dominant party that can tie up either with the Congress or BJP in forming the Government as BJP and its allies appeared headed for capturing power in Jharkhand.

PDP emerged as the single largest party by bagging 28 seats, while BJP also made gains by winning 25, all in Jammu, but it failed to make inroads in the Valley.

Outgoing Chief Minister Omar Abdullah won from Beerwah but lost in Sonawar while his National Conference, which was the single largest party in 2008 assembly polls with 28 seats, bagged 15 seats this time.

Congress, which was part of the ruling coalition led by Omar, won 12 seats and was ahead in one. It had won 17 seats in the last election.

Outgoing Chief Minister Omar Abdullah won from Beerwah but lost in Sonawar while his National Conference, which was the single largest party in 2008 assembly polls with 28 seats, bagged 15 seats this time.

People’s Democratic Party (PDP) leader Mehbooba Mufti on Tuesday said that the priority at present is not to cobble up a government but to explore the possibilities of forming a government which would be able to deliver her party’s agenda.

With BJP emerging as potential kingmaker in Jammu and Kashmir, party chief Amit Shah did not rule out joining hands with either PDP or National Conference saying "all options are open".

Also read: Live: Jharkhand assembly election results

Latest Updates

Latest leads: Jammu and Kashmir: PDP 30 | BJP 25 | Congress 11 | JKNC 15 | Others 6

17:19 IST Tuesday, 23 December 2014

My congratulations to the BJP Karyakartas of Jharkhand, Jammu and Kashmir: PM Narendra Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated BJP workers for the outcome in Jharkhand and Jammu and Kashmir elections. PM Modi tweeted, "My congratulations to the BJP Karyakartas of Jharkhand and Jammu and Kashmir. The results are the outcome of their hardwork and selfless dedication."

He further added, "People of Jharkhand have voted for stability, which is essential to realise the true potential of the State. I congratulate them. Record turnout in Jammu and Kashmir polls showed people's faith in democracy. I thank them from the bottom of my heart for placing their confidence in BJP."

16:56 IST Tuesday, 23 December 2014

Cobbling up new government will take time, says PDP Chief Mehbooba Mufti

The PDP which has emerged as the single largest party in Jammu and Kashmir appeared to be keeping options open in forming the next government in the state.

"We will not cobble together a government by hook or crook. It will take time to explore possibilities and formation of government to meet the people's expectations and good governance. It is difficult to say when it will materialise," PDP President Mehbooba Mufti told reporters. Read more

15:42 IST Tuesday, 23 December 2014

BJP President Amit Shah addresses press conference, says BJP has emerged as a 'relevant force' in Jammu and Kashmir

Addressing the press conference, BJP president Amit shah said, " 2014 has been a year of unprecedented success for BJP. It was our promise to give full majority government to Jharkhand, and I assure the people of Jharkhand that the party will deliver good governance. 

He further added, "I would also like to extend my heartiest congratulations to Prime Minister Narendra Modi ji on this occasion. After Lok Sabha elections BJP has climbed the ladder of success one after another. We formed the first BJP government in Maharashtra. In Haryana from four seat we reached to 50. In Jammu and Kashmir, we have bettered our position to emerge as a relevant political force. In real terms, the abhiyan of Congress 'Mukt Bharat Abhiyan' is moving ahead in a real sense.

15:24 IST Tuesday, 23 December 2014

BJP President Amit Shah arrives at party headquarters

15:02 IST Tuesday, 23 December 2014

Call has to be taken by PDP : Ghulam Nabi Azad

Speaking about the possible post-poll alliance with the PDP, Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad said, "Call has to be taken by PDP whether they want to go with secular or communal forces. BJP and Congress can never go together. They (PDP) know what is good for them."

14:13 IST Tuesday, 23 December 2014

Chief Minister Omar Abdullah wins Beerwah assembly seat by a margin of over 1000 votes.

13:21 IST Tuesday, 23 December 2014

- National Conference faces virtual rout; CM Omar Abdullah crashes to defeat in Sonawar, trailng in Beerwah

- BJP's Heena Bhat loses to PDP's Altaf Bukhari 

- Ex-separatist leader Sajjad Gani Lone wins Handwara assembly seat defeating National Conference candidate by over 4,800 

13:10 IST Tuesday, 23 December 2014

BJP's Ravinder Raina defeats PDP's Surender Choudhary in Nowshera seat of Jammu region by 9503 votes.

12:47 IST Tuesday, 23 December 2014

Omar Abdullah congratulates Ashraf Mir for his victory in Sonwar

12:45 IST Tuesday, 23 December 2014

Chief Minister Omar Abdullah defeated by PDP's Ashraf Mir in Sonwar constituency.

12:42 IST Tuesday, 23 December 2014

National Conference leader Ali Mohammad Sagar leading by 1100 votes over his nearest rival in Khanyar constituency.

National Conference's Davinder Rana wins Nagrota Assembly seat defeating BJP's Nand Kishore by margin of 4048 votes.

12:37 IST Tuesday, 23 December 2014

Easy for PDP to ally with Congress than BJP, says party leader and MP Muzaffar Baig

It will be easier to come together with Congress than BJP to form government in Jammu and Kashmir, senior PDP leader and MP Muzaffar Hussain Baig said on Tuesday. "It will be easier for PDP and Congress to come together then for PDP and BJP to come together because with Congress we had a common minimum programme and it will be easier," Baig said. Read more

12:08 IST Tuesday, 23 December 2014

PDP breaches National Conference's stronghold in Srinagar

Main opposition PDP has breached the stronghold of National Conference in prestigious Srinagar Parliamentary constituency by gaining a lead in five seats with Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah trailing in Sonawar seat. Read more

12:04 IST Tuesday, 23 December 2014

PDP's Mufti Mohammad Sayeed wins from Anantnag.

11:29 IST Tuesday, 23 December 2014

Will prefer to sit in opposition, says Sajjad Gani Lone

With the prospect of a hung assembly looming large, former separatist Sajjad Gani Lone on Tuesday remained non-committal on supporting any party for government formation in Jammu and Kashmir and said he would prefer to sit in the opposition. Read more

11:28 IST Tuesday, 23 December 2014

Will form government in both the states: Home Minister Rajnath Singh

11:00 IST Tuesday, 23 December 2014

Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad:  We would never go with BJP, as for PDP and National Conference, we have had alliance with them in the past too, lets see what happens.

10:43 IST Tuesday, 23 December 2014

Celebration begins at BJP party office in Jammu

10:12 IST Tuesday, 23 December 2014

- Daleep Singh Parihar of BJP is leading over his nearest rival Mehboob Iqbal of PDP by a margin of 1401 votes in Bhaderwah constituency.

- Ashwani Kumar of BJP is leading over Kamal Verma of NC by a margin of 2148 votes in Bishnah constituency.

- Kuldeep Raj Dubey of BJP leading over Minister and Congress candidate Aijaz Khan by a margin of 255 votes in Gool-Arnas.

- Rajesh Gupta of BJP is leading over Vikram Malhotra of Congress by a margin of 1631 votes in Jammu East.

BJP surge halted; National Conference and PDP catches up. Congress leading on 14 seats

9:57 IST Tuesday, 23 December 2014

Omar Abdullah, who was trailing in Beerwah constituency is now leading. Congress's Nazir Ahmad Khan trailing by 400+ votes

9:42 IST Tuesday, 23 December 2014

Chief Minister Omar Abdullah trailing by over 1800 votes from PDP candidate Mohammad Ashraf Mir in Sonawar http://dnai.in/cviU

9:40 IST Tuesday, 23 December 2014

- Surinder Choudhary of PDP is leading over BJP candidate Ravinder Raina by a margin of 2377 votes in Nowshera constituency.

- Chander Prakash Ganga of BJP is leading over former Minister and NC candidate S S Slathia from Vijaypur constituency by a margin of 1989 votes.

- Devinder Kumar Manyal of BJP is leading over former minister and JKNPP candidate Yashpal Kundal by a margin of 3369 votes in Samba constituency.

9:27 IST Tuesday, 23 December 2014

BJP leading on 21 seats in Jammu and Kashmir, followed by 15 seats of PDP. Neck to neck battle between BJP-PDP. Congress down with 4 seats compare to previous election.

9:12 IST Tuesday, 23 December 2014

Leads so far

BJP's Hina Bhat leading from Amirakadal 

Jammu : BJP leading on 7 seats, Congress on 2, PDP on 1 seat.

kashmir : National Conference leading on 6 seats, Congress on 2, BJP on 1, PDP on 4  and  others on 2 seats

Ladakh: BJP aand Congress on 1 seat each. 

9:03 IST Tuesday, 23 December 2014

Early leads: BJP: 8, Congress: 6, JK National Conference: 5, PDP: 3

8:56 IST Tuesday, 23 December 2014

Chief Minister Omar Abdulla leading from Beerwah; Mufti Sayeed from Anantnag. Congress - BJP locked in close fight.

PDP and National Conference down with one seat compare to 2008 assembly polls.

8:48 IST Tuesday, 23 December 2014

Jammu and Kashmir trends so for- BJP: 6, Congress: 3, National Conference: 2, PDP: 1

8:43 IST Tuesday, 23 December 2014

BJP leading on six seats in Jammu and one in Kashmir Valley. Congress holding position as of now. 

8:35 IST Tuesday, 23 December 2014

Omar Abdullah's National Conference (NC) leading on one seat. In 2008 NC had won 28 seats

8:32 IST Tuesday, 23 December 2014

BJP down two seats from Lok Sabha in early trends.

8:22 IST Tuesday, 23 December 2014

Congress and BJP takes early lead in two seats. 

7:50 IST Tuesday, 23 December 2014

Exit and opinion polls point out that both in Jharkhand, Jammuu and Kashmir BJP is doing exceedingly well, BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra

7:45 IST Tuesday, 23 December 2014

7:11 IST Tuesday, 23 December 2014

While Omar contested from Beerwah seat in Budgam district and Sonawar seat in Srinagar, Sayeed is seeking re-election from Anantnag Assembly segment in the south Kashmir district.

Most of the observers will keenly watch the result of Handwara Assembly constituency in north Kashmir Kupwara district where separatist-turned mainstream politician Sajjad Gani Lone is trying his 

Most political observers and opinion polls are predicting a hung Assembly in Jammu and Kashmir. There are speculations about various political parties trying to work out an alliance, depending on the numbers thrown up tomorrow.

Omar's National Conference, which was the single-largest part in 2008 polls winning 28 seats, is facing an uphill task to retain its position.

PDP, which had 21 members in the 11th Assembly, is expecting to be the single-largest party, riding on the anti-incumbency and anger among the flood victims.

In 2008 polls, National Conference had won 28 seats, Congress 17 and PDP 21. BJP had 11, Panthers' Party 3 and CPM had one.
Independents had bagegd six seats.