Jammu and Kashmir Assembly Election Results: NC emerges as highest winning party with 42 seats

BJP chief J P Nadda on Tuesday hailed the party's victory in the Haryana assembly polls, saying people of the state rejected the Congress' pitch for casteism, nepotism and dynastic politics, and voted for the BJP's development model under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership. Addressing BJP workers at the party headquarters here after the poll results were out, Nadda also hailed the party's performance in Jammu and Kashmir, and said its vote share increased in the assembly polls as the people of the Union territory reposed faith in Modi's leadership. "Congress leaders were engaged in spreading lies but people did not pay any heed to them. They gave a mandate to the BJP for a third consecutive term in Haryana," he said. People have rejected the Congress' pitch for casteism, nepotism and dynastic politics, and voted for the BJP's development model, Nadda said and asked the party workers to stay united and ensure the party's victory in the upcoming assembly polls in Maharashtra, Jharkhand and Delhi.

The Awami Ittehad Party led by Sheikh Abdul Rashid alias Engineer Rashid, who proved a giant slayer after he defeated former chief minister Omar Abdullah in the 2024 parliamentary elections, has failed to make much impact in the Jammu and Kashmir assembly polls. Rashid, who won while incarcerated in Tihar Jail on terror funding charges, attempted to demonstrate that his parliamentary win was not merely a fluke. However, he failed to strike a chord with the voters in the first assembly polls after the abrogation of Article 370.

The BJP on Tuesday hailed its victory in Haryana as "historic" and accepted the people's mandate in Jammu and Kashmir, saying that freeing the Union territory from terror and bringing in development will continue to remain the "top priority" under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. According to trends on the Election Commission's website, the BJP was poised to form its government in Haryana with the party crossing the halfway mark and winning 48 out of 90 assembly seats in the election. In Jammu and Kashmir, the National Conference-Congress alliance swooped the assembly polls, winning 48 out of 90 seats together. The BJP ended up winning 29 seats, securing the highest vote share of 25.6 per cent, and emerged as the second-largest party.

Three women, including former minister Sakeena Masood (National Conference), won elections on Tuesday to enter the male-dominated Assembly in Jammu and Kashmir. While two women made it to the Assembly in 2014, three women, including Mehbooba Mufti, won elections in 2008. Among them, the lone BJP female candidate Shagun Parihar won the Kishtwar Assembly seat, defeating veteran National Conference leader and former minister Sajad Ahmed Kitchloo. Former Masood, who got 36,623 votes, won by a margin of 17,449 votes, defeating Gulzar Ahmed Dar, who polled 19,174 votes in the D H Pora Assembly seat in the Kulgam district, according to the ECI website.

With the National Conference and Congress alliance set to form the next government in Jammu and Kashmir after crossing the majority mark by winning 48 seats, there are only two Hindu faces who have won the elections on the ticket of the regional party even as the two coalition partners had together fielded 30 candidates, including several members of the Sikh community. However, the BJP which had emerged victorious on 29 seats have 28 Hindus and one Sikh member as none of its Muslim candidates, including two former ministers, managed to win. National Conference’s Surinder Choudhary emerged as the giant killer when he thumped Jammu and Kashmir BJP chief Ravinder Raina by a margin of 7,819 votes from the Nowshera constituency of Rajouri district.

Seven independent candidates have emerged victorious in the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly polls, marking an increase from the 2014 elections when three such candidates had won. Satesh Sharma, who left the Congress and contested as an independent from the Chhamb seat of Jammu region, won the election by defeating BJP candidate Rajeev Sharma with a margin of 6,929 votes. Satesh Sharma, 42, who is son of two-time MP and former Congress minister Madan Lal Sharma, polled 33,985 votes. Former deputy chief minister and Congress candidate Tara Chand, who had won this seat three times, finished third with 16,449 votes.

Former Deputy Chief Minister and Congress candidate Tara Chand on Tuesday lost his traditional bastion of the Chhamb seat, which was won by rebel independent candidate Satesh Sharma with a margin of 6,929 votes. The Congress party had won the Chhamb Assembly constituency seven out of the past nine elections since 1962, when party veteran Chajju Ram secured the seat for the first time. Sharma, aged 42, left the Congress and contested as an independent candidate from the Chhamb assembly segment of Jammu, defeating BJP candidate Rajeev Sharma with a margin of 6,929 votes. Sharma, the son of two-time MP and former Congress Minister Madan Lal Sharma, received 33,985 votes.
 

BJP candidate Devender Rana won from Nagrota segment with the highest margin while the PDP's Tral candidate Rafiq Ahmad Naik had the lowest margin for victory in the Jammu and Kashmir assembly elections whose results were declared on Tuesday. Rana, who had won the 2014 assembly elections on the National Conference (NC) ticket, retained the Nagrota seat on BJP ticket by a margin of 30,472 votes. His nearest rival, NC's Joginder Singh, got 17,641 votes. AICC general secretary Ghulam Ahmad Mir also won big with a margin of 29,728 votes, closely followed by Rana's fellow NC defector to BJP, Surjit Singh Slathia, who won by a margin of 29,481 votes from Samba seat. The BJP had five other candidates who won the elections by a margin of more than 20,000 votes.

Final Results: 90

• JKNC: 42
• Congress: 06
• CPM: 01
• BJP: 29
• JKPDP: 03
• JKPC: 01
• AAP: 01
• Independents: 07

More voters in Jammu and Kashmir used the NOTA button against those in Haryana, latest Election Commission data shows. In elections to the 90-member Haryana assembly, out of over two crore electors, 67.90 per cent had exercised their franchise. Out of these, 0.38 per cent used the none of the above (NOTA) option on the voting machine. In the three-phased Jammu and Kashmir assembly polls to 90 seats, 63.88 per cent of the total electorate voted. Out of these, 1.48 per cent opted for the NOTA option. According to trends, not more than two per cent of the voters have opted for the NOTA option, indicating continued reluctance of electors in choosing the option. Introduced in 2013, the NOTA option on electronic voting machines has its own symbol — a ballot paper with a black cross across it.

The results of assembly elections in the Kashmir Valley have culminated in a significant rejection of separatist candidates, including those from Engineer Rashid-led Awami Ittehad Party and Jamaat-e-Islami, who failed to make a meaningful impact in the polls. The standout performance came from Sayar Ahmed Reshi, a proxy candidate for Jamaat-e-Islami from Kulgam, and Khursheed Ahmad Sheikh, brother of the Sheikh Abdul Rashid alias Engineer Rashid, who contested from Langate. Despite their efforts, the majority of candidates associated with these groups lost their deposits, indicating a clear disapproval from the electorate.

CPM's Mohamad Yousuf Tarigami wins Jammu and Kashmir's Kulgam seat by defeating independent candidate Sayar Ahmad Reshi with a margin of 7,838 votes.

Jammu and Kashmir People Conference (JKPC) leader Sajad Gani Lone wins Jammu and Kashmir's Handwara seat by defeating Jammu and Kashmir National Conference's (JKNC) Chowdry Mohammad Ramzan with a margin of just 662 votes.

Yudhvir Sethi of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) won from Jammu East constituency in Assembly Election results. 

JKPDP candidate Iltija Mufti loses from Srigufwara-Bijbehara seat in Jammu and Kashmir. Jammu & Kashmir National Conference's Bashir Ahmad Shah Veeri wins from Srigufwara-Bijbehara constituency. 

AAP MP Sanjay Singh said, "It is a piece of great news for our party that its young leader Mehraj Malik has won from Doda....We will review the Haryana election results...AAP is expanding as a national party in the country..."

National Conference chief Farooq Abdullah said, "After 10 years the people have given their mandate to us. We pray to Allah that we meet their expectations...It will not be 'police raj' here but 'logon ka raj' here. We will try to bring out the innocent persons who are jailed. Media will be free. We have to develop trust between Hindus and Muslims. I am hopeful that INDIA alliance partners will fight with us to restore statehood here...I understand Omar Abdullah will become the CM."

PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti said, "I think the people wanted a stable government and they thought that National Conference -Congress could give that and keep BJP away."

JKNC Vice President and winning candidate from Budgam, Omar Abdullah said, " Entire result hasn't come yet, we will talk about this after that. The way NC has got victory, we are thankful to the voters. People have supported us more than our expectations. Now our efforts will be to prove that we are worth these votes".

BJP candidate from Jammu West Assembly constituency, Arvind Gupta said, "This victory is the victory of BJP. I will fulfil the promises I have made to the people. I express my gratitude to the people for the love and support they have given me...."

National Conference candidate Javid Hassan Baig won the Baramulla seat by a margin of 11,773 votes.

National Conference candidate Sheikh Ahsan Ahmed won the Lal Chowk Assembly seat by over 11,000 votes. 

National Conference leader Omar Abdullah will be next chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir as NC and Congress alliance swept the Valley in the Assembly Elections.

The Aam Aadmi Party candidate Mehraj Malik won the Doda Assembly seat in Jammu and Kashmir by defeating BJP's Gajay Singh Rana with a margin of 4,770 votes. With this the party has opened its account in yet another state after Punjab, and Gujarat.

Omar Abdullah won the Budgam seat by a margin of 18485 votes. He defeated PDP's Aga Syed Muntazir Mehdi.

Jammu and Kashmir Vote Share: Till 1 PM

• BJP: 25.98%
• JKNC: 23.26%
• Congress: 11.83%
• JKPDP: 8.62%

The Congress-National Conference alliance is leading on 49 seats, BJP 29. Others are ahead on 12 seats.

As per the latest EC data, JKNC has won 2 seats and is leading on 41 so far while Congress is leading on 7 seats.

BJP's Ranbir Singh Pathania won the Udhampur East by over 2,300 votes, defeating Independent candidate Pawan Khajuria.

National Conference's Salman Sagar won by over 10,000 votes in Hazratbal.

National Conference candidate Nazir Ahmad Khan won Gurez seat, defeating BJP's Faqeer Mohammad Khan by 1132 votes.

NC candidate from Gurez Assembly, Nazir Ahmad said, "  I want to thank people who worked hard...I had no money or resources...this defeat is of PM Modi not just of BJP"

As per the latest EC data, the JKNC-Congress alliance is leading on  50 of the 90 seats; JKNC is leading on 42 and Congress on 8 seats.

BJP workers in Jammu burst crackers to celebrate the party's lead in the region.

BJP's Darshan Kumar won Jammu and Kashmir's Basohli constituency by defeating Chaudhary Lal Singh of Congress by 16,034 votes.

1. Budgam
Omar Abdullah of NC leading by 4,500 against Aga Muntazar Mehdi of PDP

2.Ganderbal
Omar Abdullah of NC leading by 4,000 against Bashir Ahmad Mir of PDP

3. Nowshera
Surender Choudhary of NC leading by 10,000 against Ravinder Raina of BJP

4.Kulgam
Mohammad Yousuf Tarigami of CPM leading by 2,000 against Sayar Ahmad Rishi of Jamaat-e-Islami

5. Bijbehara
Dr Bashir Ahmad Veeri of NC leading by 5,000 against Iltija Mufti of PDP

6. Pattan
Javed Riyaz Bedar of NC leading by 5,000 against Imran Reza Ansari of Peoples Conference

7. Zadibal
Tanvir Sadiq of NC leading by 7,500 against Abid Hussain Ansari of PC

8. Handwara
Sajad Lone of PC leading by 916 votes against Choudhary Mohammad Ramzan of NC
PC: 9,800
NC: 8,883

9. Baramulla
Javed Hassan Baig of NC leading. Muzaffar Baig at No: 4

10. Chrar-e-Sharif
Abdul Rahim Rather of NC leading by 3,200 against Ghulam Nabi Lone of PDP

11. Habbakadal
Shameema Firdaus of NC leading by 5,000 against Ashok Kumar Bhat of BJP

12. Pulwama
Waheed-ur-Rehman Para of PDP leading by 3,000 against Mohammad Khalil Bandh of NC

13. Uri
Dr Sajad Shafi of NC leading by 7,000 against Taj Mohiuddin, indepedent

14. Zainapora
Showkat Hussain Ganai of NC leading by 6,500 against Aijaz Ahmad Mir, independent supported by Jamaat

15. Central Shalteng
Tariq Hamid Karra of Congress-NC leading by 7,100 against independent Noor Mohammad Sheikh

16.Chhanapora
Mushtaq Ahmad Guru of NC leading by 3,000 against Syed Altaf Bukhari of Apni Party

CPM candidate Mohamad Yousuf Tarigami is leading in Kulgam by 3,654 votes.

J&K Congress chief Tariq Hameed Karra, "I have been maintaining that our mark will cross 50 (in J&K), I am still hoping that the final results will be accordingly...This (nomination of 5 MLA seats by LG) is pre-meditated, pre-conceived, pre-poll rigging. This is totally unconstitutional and undemocratic - it is an insult to popular mandate..."

The Congress-National Conference alliance is leading in 52 seats, BJP 26. Others are leading in 12 seats.

PDP candidate from Srigufwara–Bijbehara constituency, Iltija Mufti is trailing by a margin of 4334 votes after round 6/12 of counting as per latest EC data. NC's Bashir Ahmad Shah Veeeri leading here.

National Conference is leading in 40 seats, Congress 8. The alliance of the two parties is likely to form a government in Jammu and Kashmir.

Jammu and Kashmir BJP chief Ravinder Raina is trailing in the Nowshera assembly constituency, while former Deputy chief minister and Congress candidate Tara Chand is behind his rivals in the Chhamb seat, according to the Election Commission website.

National Conference is leading in 39 seats, Congress 8, BJP 28, PDP 4.

PDP's Firdous Ahmad Mir is leading in the Karnah seat by 2329 votes.

PDP's Waheed Ur Rehman Para is leading in the Pulwama seat by 2701 votes. 

PDP's Zahoor Ahmad Mir is leading in the Pampore seat by 438 votes.

PDP's Mir Mohammad Fayaz is leading in Kupwara by 1940 votes.

The Congress-National Conference alliance is leading in 46 seats and the BJP is ahead in 28 seats. Others are leading in 16 seats.

National Conference's Prizada Farooq Ahmed Shah is leading in the Gulmarg seat by 1912 votes.

National Conference's Sajjad Shafi is leading in the Uri seat by 1678 votes.

National Conference's Irshad Rasool Kar is leading in Sopore by 1491 votes.

National Conference's Saifullah Mir is leading in Trehgam seat by 869 votes. 

AAP's Mehraj Malik is leading in the Doda seat by 25 votes.

BJP's Arvind Gupta is leading in the Jammu West seat by 8853 votes.

BJP's Shakti Raj Parihar is leading by 1364 votes in the Doda West seat.

The Congress-National Conference alliance is leading in 51 seats, BJP in 23 and Others are ahead in 16 seats.

The Congress alliance is leading in 54 seats, while the BJP is ahead in 25 seats. Others are ahead in 11.

The Congress-National Conference crossed the majority mark in trends. The alliance is leading in 52 seats and the BJP is ahead in 26 seats. Others are ahead in 12 seats, as per the trends.

BJP state chief Ravinder Raina is trailing in Nowshera. National Conference candidate Surinder Skumar Choudhary is leading by 2797 votes.

The Congress-National Conference alliance is leading in 46 seats, and the BJP in 32 seats. Others are ahead in 12 seats. 

Congress is leading in Central Shalteng and Rajouri constituencies in Jammu and Kashmir.

The Congress-National Conference alliance is leading in 47 seats and the BJP is ahead in 31 seats. Others are leading in 12 seats.

Congress is leading in Dooru, Anantnag, Inderwal and Surankote constituencies in Jammu and Kashmir.

BJP is leading in Bishnah, Suchetgarh, RS Pura-Jammu South, Jammu East, Nagrota and Jammu West constituencies in Jammu and Kashmir.

BJP is leading in Shri Mata Vaishno Devi, Udhampur East, Chenani and Vijaypur constituencies in Jammu and Kashmir.

BJP's Gharu Ram is leading in Suchetgarh (SC) seat. Congress alliance is leading in 42 seats and the BJP is ahead in 35. Others are leading in 12 seats.

BJP's Chander Parkash is leading in Vijaypur, as per the ECI.

The Congress-National Conference alliance is leading in 41 seats while the BJP is ahead in 35 seats. Others are leading in 14 seats.

When asked about any possible alliance with PDP, JKNC Vice President and party's candidate from Ganderbal & Budgam, Omar Abdullah said, " Neither have we asked for any support from them nor have we received any support...let the result come. Not sure why we are so restless, let the result come, right now nobody has the number...right now we are not in need (of their support)...once the result is out, we will analyse..."

BJP's Baldev Raj Sharma is leading in the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi seat in early trends. Congress alliance is leading in 36 seats while the BJP is ahead in 31 seats.

BJP's Sham Lal Sharma is leading in Jammu North, as per the early trends of ECI.

Congress alliance is leading in 30 seats, while the BJP is ahead in 28 seats in early trends. Others are leading in 9 seats.

National Conference candidate Advocate Abdul Rahim Rather is leading in Jammu and Kashmir's Chrar-i-Sharief in the early trends.

The Congress-NC alliance is leading in 26 seats, and the BJP is ahead in 23 seats in the early trends.

The BJP took the lead again in 21 seats, while the Congress-NC alliance is ahead in 20 seats. Others are leading in 5 seats. 

The Congress alliance took the lead again with lead in 20 seats, and the BJP is ahead in 19 seats. 

The BJP is leading in 18 seats, while the Congress-NC alliance is ahead in 15 seats in early trends. Others are ahead in 4 seats.

Congress-National Conference alliance is leading in 13 seats and the BJP in 12 seats in early trends.

The BJP is leading in 11 seats, and Congress in 7 in the early trends. The counting of votes began at 8 am and the postal ballots are being counted.

BJP's Devender Singh Rana is leading in Jammu and Kashmir's Nagrota in the initial trends.

BJP is leading in 10 seats, Congress-NC alliance is ahead in 6 seats in the initial trends.

The Congress-National Conference alliance is leading in 6 seats while the BJP is ahead in 4 seats in the early trends.

Congress and National Conference alliance is leading in three seats in initial trends. The BJP is still standing at Zero. Postal ballots are being counted first. The EVMs will be opened after the completion of the counting of votes through postal ballots.

The counting of votes began at 8 am sharp.

The counting of votes will begin at 8 am sharp. Postal ballots will firstly be counted and the EVMs will be opened thereafter.

BJP National Spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari said, "The results of assembly elections in J&K will show that people want a pro-development government. The BJP-led coalition will win the assembly elections of J&K...Without representation from Jammu, the government will not be formed...In Haryana, we (BJP) are hopeful of forming the government for the third time..."

Earlier today, Omar Abdullah extended best wishes to the candidates for the result day.

Congress candidate from Rajouri, Iftikhar Ahmed said, "In this festival of democracy people voted in large numbers. Elections were held after 10 years, there is great enthusiasm among people and this is the day of results. My best wishes to all candidates. I hope people's mandate will be respected and democracy will win."

"I have full faith that the BJP and its alliance partners and Independent candidates will form government in Jammu and Kashmir. The BJP will win 30-35 seats and about 15 Independent candidates and other candidates from alliance parties are likely to win," said J&K BJP president and party’s candidate from Nowshera Assembly seat Ravinder Raina.

Srinagar Deputy Commissioner Dr. Bilal Mohi-ud-Din Bhat said, "We are here at SKICC (Sheri-Kashmir International Conference Centre). Counting of votes for the 8 assembly segments in Srinagar will begin at 8 am. We will begin with the counting of postal ballots, as per the EC guidelines. From 8.30 am, the counting of votes through EVMs will also begin. All arrangements are complete..."

"Here’s wishing all my colleagues and allies the very best of luck for today. We fought the good fight & now, InshaAllah, the results will reflect that," Omar Abdullah tweeted ahead of the counting of votes on Tuesday.

National Conference's Omar Abdullah, PDP's Iltija Mufti, and BJP's Ravinder Raina are among the key candidates whose fate will be decided once the ballot boxes and EVMs open at 8 am today.

Ravinder Raina said, "BJP has done work for the people of J&K...We are hopeful that we will win the elections with full majority...We will win 30-35 seats...The independent candidates supported by BJP will also win..."

On exit polls, Kavinder Gupta said, "There are differences between the numbers in exit polls and our numbers. We have been among the people...We know the opinion of people...Results will be in the favour of BJP..."

BJP leader Kavinder Gupta said that the people of Jammu and Kashmir have voted for the BJP and exuded confidence in emerging as the largest party in the polls.

"BJP has taken people in J&K on the path to development, they have taken away from stone pelting. They have been freed of separatism, terrorism, corruption, and dynasties. So, the manner in which we have headed from bullet to ballot, from terrorism to tourism, people have voted for the BJP and it will emerge as the largest party and we will form the party," he said.

Independent candidate from Ramban, Suraj Singh Parihar said, "The zeal among people is very high...This democratic process has reached the final moments of its final stage. Counting will be held today...Voters must be waiting eagerly..."

Out of 90 Assembly seats, a party or a coalition needs to win 46 seats in order to form the government. The counting of votes will start at 8 am sharp today.

SSP Rajouri Randeep Kumar said, "...We have made all efforts to have foolproof security arrangements, we have made all efforts to ensure that nobody faces any inconvenience. Only those with issued ID cards are being allowed after checking... The police force and paramilitary force are alert and we have made proper arrangements for security. Counting process will conclude peacefully...All our surveillance equipment are working...All teams are alert."

Jammu and Kashmir saw the voting percentage of 69.69 per cent in the third and final phase of elections on October 1. Samba recorded the highest turnout with 76.49 per cent while the lowest percentage was seen in Baramulla with 61.03 per cent.

Jammu and Kashmir recorded 57.31 per cent voter turnout in the second phase of elections on September 25. Reasi witnessed a turnout of 74.68 per cent while Srinagar saw a turnout of 30.08 per cent.

Jammu and Kashmir had witnessed 61.38 per cent of voter turnout in the first phase of polling on September 18. Kishtwar had recorded the highest percentage with 80.20 per cent. Pulwama saw the lowest turnout with 46.99 per cent.

The Assembly Elections in Jammu and Kashmir were held in three phases -- September 18, September 25, and October 1.

BJP President and candidate from Nowshera Assembly, Ravinder Raina performed Hawan ahead of the counting of votes.

Security has been heightened in the capital city Srinagar ahead of the counting of votes scheduled to begin at 8 am today.

Vikram Randhawa, BJP candidate from Bahu Assembly constituency visited Bawe Wali Mata Mahakali Mandir in Jammu ahead of the counting of votes for the J&K Assembly elections.

Security has been heightened at a counting centre in Ramban ahead of the counting of votes scheduled to start at 8 am.

Security has been ramped up across the Union Territory ahead of the counting of votes in Jammu and Kashmir.

The counting of votes will begin at 8 am today. The postal ballots are expected to be counted first, followed by the EVMs.

Everything is in readiness for the counting of votes in Jammu and Kashmir. While the Congress and National Conference, who contested the Assembly polls in alliance, hope to win the election and form its government, the BJP hopes to do the same, in the first polls in the region after the abrogation of Article 370.