Gupkar, BJP slug it out over DDC poll results
Both the parties claim moral victory as PAGD bags 110 seats while BJP emerges as single largest party
SRINAGAR: The People’s Alliance for Gupkar Declaration (PAGD) bagged 110 seats while BJP emerged as the single largest party by getting 75 seats in Jammu and Kashmir District Development Council (DDC) polls, officials said on Wednesday . With the results of two out of 280 constituencies awaited till late Wednesday evening, both the PAGD and the BJP tried to project the verdict in their favour.
The results of two constituencies - one each in Bandipora and Kupwara districts of north Kashmir -- are still awaited as counting of votes has been deferred there till further orders, they said.
With the emergence of BJP as the single-largest party after securing the largest vote share, Union home minister Amit Shah thanked the voters of the union territory and said in a tweet, “I heartily thank our sisters and brothers of J&K for voting BJP as the single largest party in the District Development Council elections. BJP under the leadership of PM @narendramodiji will continue to work relentlessly towards the prosperity and development of the J&K region.”
The eight-phase polls that ended on December 19 recorded over 51% voting as per the state election commission data.
Asserting that the poll results are a victory for Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s “larger narrative” for the union territory, the BJP said that the verdict is a “resounding slap” by people on the face of extremists, separatists, terrorists and their patrons.
Law minister and senior BJP leader Ravi Shankar Prasad also rejected the contention that the results are a win for People’s Alliance for Gupkar Declaration (PAGD), noting that the BJP has got more votes than the total votes of the National Conference, the PDP and the Congress put together.
“This is a victory for India, democracy, hope, development and people of Jammu and Kashmir. This is a victory for Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s larger narrative for Jammu and Kashmir,” Prasad told reporters
Out of the 278 seats for which results have been declared by the J&K Election Commission so far, besides the
PAGD and the BJP, Independent candidates have won 50, Congress 26, Apni Party 12, PDF and the National Panthers Party two each and the BSP one.
The counting of votes for the 280 DDC constituencies started Tuesday morning after the peaceful culmination of the eight-phase election from November 28 to December 19.
However, PDP president Mehbooba Mufti and NC vice president Omar Abdullah said the results of the DDC elections have made it clear that the people of Jammu and Kashmir have voted for the Gupkar alliance and rejected the Centre’s decision to abrogate Article 370.
Responding to BJP’s assertion that the polls point to a victory of the saffron party, NC vice- president, Omar Abdullah said, “We also accept it (that democracy has won). When did we say that we do not trust democracy? It is another thing that you do not trust us. We have been saying this from day one that we will fight for our rights but not unlawfully or unconstitutionally. We are not for disturbing the atmosphere in this state, but to make it better.”
At a press conference in Jammu, BJP’s in-charge of the polls in the UT, Anurag Thakur said, “It is important to know that independent candidates have polled more votes than the Congress and the PDP. The same Mehbooba Mufti who had refused to unfurl the Tricolour has got a befitting reply today [Wednesday].”
Meanwhile, J&K BJP chief Ravinder Raina said, “BJP has performed well. We have a clear majority in six districts in Jammu. Many independents have won there. It was BJP versus all. I think the way we have come up suggests that we have won. Seven parties together were against BJP,” Raina told ANI.