Assembly elections are going to be held for the first time in Jammu and Kashmir after the creation of a Union Territory. The Election Commission has announced the election dates for these elections. The people of Jammu and Kashmir will vote on September 18, September 25 and October 1 to elect their government for five years. Assembly elections will be conducted in three phases in the security sensitive Union Territory. The results of the assembly elections will come on October 4.
Last time voting was held in five phases
In the last assembly elections of Jammu and Kashmir, voting was held in five phases. On 25 November 2014, in the first phase, voting was held for 15 out of 87 seats of Jammu and Kashmir Assembly. Voting was held on 18 seats in the second phase on 2 December, 16 seats in the third phase on 9 December and 18 seats in the fourth phase on 14 December. In the fifth and final phase, voting was held on 20 seats on 20 December. The election results were announced on 23 December 2014.
Assembly elections after 10 years
This will be the first assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir after 2014. In 2014, votes were cast for 87 assembly seats in the state. Then the People’s Democratic Party emerged as the largest party by winning 28 seats. Whereas, BJP had won 25 seats. National Conference had won 15 seats and Congress 12 seats. In the election results, no party could reach the magic figure of 44 seats required for majority. After the announcement of election results, PDP and BJP, the first and second placed parties, formed an alliance under the leadership of Mufti Mohammad Sayeed.
After the death of Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, his daughter Mehbooba Mufti took charge of the government but the cooperation between the two parties could not last long. By the end of 2018, both the parties parted ways and Governor’s rule had to be imposed in Jammu and Kashmir, which was then a full state with special status. Political parties expected mid-term elections but it did not happen. First the elections were postponed for delimitation and then elections could not be held due to removal of Article 370 and creation of Union Territory. Just last year, the Supreme Court had instructed the Election Commission to conduct elections in Jammu and Kashmir by the month of September.
This change happened due to delimitation
These first elections, which are going to be held after the reorganization and delimitation of Jammu and Kashmir state, will be quite different from 2014. Earlier elections were held for 87 seats in Jammu and Kashmir. The total number of seats was 111, including 24 seats from Pakistan occupied Kashmir. There were 37 seats in Jammu, 46 in Kashmir and four in Ladakh. After delimitation, there will now be 43 seats in Jammu and 47 seats in Kashmir. If 24 seats for PoK are also included, the number of seats reaches 114. In Jammu region, one assembly seat each has been increased in Samba, Kathua, Rajouri Kishtwar, Doda and Udhampur. One seat has increased in Kupwara, Kashmir.