Did the voters turn out in big numbers in the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly Election 2024 to express their anguish over the abrogation of Article 370 and vote overwhelmingly for the party that was behind it? Can it be said safely that the people have given their verdict against those who abolished the special status of Jammu and Kashmir? Has ‘Kashmiriyat’ triumphed over everything else and defeated all naysayers?

National Conference Gets Lead

These questions have been raised after the results of the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly Election 2024 began to emerge. When writing this article, the National Conference was leading in 43 and Congress in eight seats in the house of 90 seats, while the BJP was leading in 28 assembly seats.

Why Did PDP Plummet 

But the PDP surprised everyone with just two seats leading. Iltija Mufti, the daughter of former Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti, conceded defeat from Bijbehera, considered the pocket borough of Muftis. This constituency elected her grandfather Mufti Mohammad Sayeed and mother Mehbooba Mufti.

Massive Turnout Sends Strong Signals

Eyebrows were raised and people and politicians heaped praise on the masses of Jammu and Kashmir when they turned in big numbers in all three phases of voting. Election Commission said 63.88% of voters used their franchise right, much above 58.58% of the Lok Sabha Election 2024.

Was Article 370 An Issue?

Political analysts believe the result of the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly Election 2024 is the unambiguous manifestation of people’s wishes on the abrogation of Article 370. The National Conference was up in arms over the union government’s decision on August 5, 2019. Its leader Farooq Abdullah went to the extent of bringing all parties of Jammu and Kashmir on a platform named Gupkar Alliance. The main objective of the alliance was to oppose the abrogation of Article 370. It was the urgency of the matter and the leadership of the former chief minister that the warring parties with contradictory interests like the NC and the PDP came on a single platform.

Was Statehood An Issue?

Omar Abdullah also raised the issue of restoration of statehood and emphasized it would restore the statehood if the National Conference and Congress alliance formed the government. The Congress supported the demand and its leader Rahul Gandhi promised to restore the statehood. Amit Shah hit back by questioning Congress how it could do so when it is not at the centre. He assured to restore the statehood of Jammu and Kashmir if the BJP wins.

Role Of Smaller Parties

If media reports are to be believed, the saffron party backed Engineer Rashid’s Awami Ittehad Partry indirectly by releasing him on parole and increasing the parole just before the election. Mehbooba Mufti of the PDP went to the extent of questioning the AIP how it could contest on so many seats and wherefrom the money would it receive for it.

Jamaat-e-Islami To Join Mainstream

Similarly, Jamaat-e-Islami, the party that has been boycotting the polls from the very beginning, decided to join the mainstream politics and approached the union government for recognition. Its leaders contested the election as independent candidates.

In an attempt to checkmate the NC, the BJP reportedly backed smaller parties like the Apni Party, Jammu Kashmir People’s Party, Jammu and Kashmir People’s Conference and Panther’s Party.  It was believed that these smaller parties could be the kingmakers if a hung assembly emerged after the polls, as predicted by existing polls.

Did ‘Kashmiriyat’ Win

Political analysts believe it was clear that the people have to choose between those who bat for ‘kashmiriyat’ and others. As the NC successfully established itself as the party working for the restoration of statehood and the special status of Jammu and Kashmir, the general masses came out in huge numbers and voted for the party.

Former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah is most likely to be the head of the government once again. But will he be able to fulfill the promises the NC made before the polls? Will he now fight for the restoration of the statehood and the special status of Jammu and Kashmir?