Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah won from the Budgam and Ganderbal constituencies in Tuesday’s Assembly election results, data from the Election Commission showed.
In Budgam, Abdullah, the vice president of the National Conference, defeated Aga Syed Muntzair Mehdi of the People’s Democratic Party by more than 18,400 votes.
In Ganderbal, Abdullah won by more than 10,000 votes against People’s Democratic Party candidate Bashir Ahmad Mir.
National Conference chief Farooq Abdullah said that Omar Abdullah would become the next chief minister of the Union territory, ANI reported.
“After 10 years, the people have given their mandate to us,” he said. “I am hopeful that INDIA alliance partners will fight with us to restore statehood here.”
Follow Scroll’s coverage of the 2024 Jammu and Kashmir Assembly election result here
The National Conference won 42 seats, mostly in the Kashmir Valley. Its ally, the Congress, won six seats.
The Bharatiya Janata Party did not win any seats in the Kashmir Valley but clinched 29 in the Jammu region.
The Peoples Democratic Party won three seats while the People’s Conference secured a single constituency in the Union territory.
The Legislative Assembly in Jammu and Kashmir has a strength of 119 members. While elections took place in 90 constituencies, 24 more seats are designated for areas that are in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. The lieutenant governor has the power to appoint five members. Therefore, a party or an alliance needs 48 seats for a majority when the House has 95 members.
The Assembly polls in Jammu and Kashmir took place in three phases on September 18, September 25 and October 1. A voter turnout of 63.8% was recorded.
Most exit polls on Saturday projected the National Conference-Congress alliance to be ahead of the BJP.
The Assembly polls in Jammu and Kashmir were the first in 10 years and since the abrogation of Article 370 of the Constitution in August 2019, which gave special status to the erstwhile state. The Centre had at the time also bifurcated the state into two Union territories: Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh.
Also read: Why new J&K government will be stunted – no matter who wins
Limited-time offer: Big stories, small price. Keep independent media alive. Become a Scroll member today!
Our journalism is for everyone. But you can get special privileges by buying an annual Scroll Membership. Sign up today!