The Congress party has fallen from a junior partner to a marginal player in the new Jammu and Kashmir government after four independent MLAs pledged their support to the National Conference (NC), the leading party in the recent elections.

Independent MLAs Boost National Conference’s Majority

The four independent MLAs, Pyare Lal Sharma, Satish Sharma, Choudhary Mohammed Akram, and Dr. Rameshwar Singh who won seats in Inderwal, Chhamb, Surankote, and Bani, have joined the NC. This alliance brings the NC’s total to 46 lawmakers, surpassing the majority mark in the 90-member House, excluding the five members nominated by Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha. As a result, the NC no longer relies on the Congress for support, exacerbating the Congress party’s ongoing crisis, marked by internal conflicts and a series of electoral defeats, including its recent loss in Haryana.

A Delicate Balance for the National Conference

Despite having a majority, the NC’s position is precarious; a single loss of an MLA would drop it below the threshold, making Congress’s six seats potentially significant again. However, for now, the Congress does not pose a major concern for Omar Abdullah, the NC leader. The NC secured 42 seats in the elections, while the Congress managed only six. Meanwhile, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which dominated the Jammu region, increased its seat count from 29 to 32 after gaining support from three additional independents.

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People’s Democratic Party Faces Collapse

The People’s Democratic Party (PDP), led by former Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti, experienced a significant downturn, winning just three seats compared to its 28 in the previous election cycle, effectively losing its chance to influence the assembly’s direction.

Congress Criticized by Coalition Partners

The election results defied exit poll predictions of a hung assembly and added to the Congress’s troubles, following its disappointing performance in Haryana. Allies in the INDIA bloc criticized the Congress, with the Shiv Sena and Mamata Banerjee’s Trinamool Congress particularly vocal about the party’s “arrogance” and “overconfidence.” These criticisms come as the Congress faces upcoming elections in Maharashtra, Jharkhand, and Delhi, highlighting its struggle to maintain electoral momentum.

Omar Abdullah Set to Lead

In a significant development, Omar Abdullah has been unanimously elected as the legislative party leader and is poised to become the next Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir. This was expected, as his father, Farooq Abdullah, indicated earlier that Omar would take on this role as the NC celebrated its electoral success.

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