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J&K DDC polls: In a first, BJP bags 3 seats in Kashmir valley, wins 73 seats; PAGD maintains overall lead

Jammu
December 23, 2020

The seven party People's Alliance for Gupkar Declaration (PAGD) led by Farooq Abdullah has won over seats in the maiden District Development Council polls in Jammu and Kashmir.

Till the last reports came, the PAGD had won or was leading in 112 seats out of 280 on Tuesday, followed by the BJP which emerged as the single largest party as it won 73 seats including three in the Kashmir Valley for the first time. The People's Alliance for Gupkar Declaration (PAGD) had bagged 100 seats and was leading in 12 others, the Union Territory's election commission said.

Forty seven Independents, mainly disgruntled leaders from all political parties have been declared winners and six more were leading in other seats.

The Jammu and Kashmir Apni Party (JKAP) put up a dismal performance by bagging 11 seats and leading in another seat. The Congress so far won 22 seats and was leading in five other council seats.

The eight phase DDC polls, which began on November 28 are the first election after Jammu and Kashmir's special status under Article 370 was revoked last year and it was re-organized into a Union Territory. In the election, 140 seats each in the Jammu and Kashmir regions went to polls.

The trends in most seats in the DDC elections were in accordance with expectations - the BJP maintained its strength in the Jammu region while the PAGD, which includes regional heavyweights the National Conference (NC) and the People's Democratic Party (PDP) was ahead in Kashmir, besides Pir Panchal and the Chenab Valley regions of Jammu.
A day ahead of counting of votes, authorities had detained several PDP and second rung NC leaders, including Naeem Akhtar, Sartaj Madni, Peer Mansoor and Hilal Ahmad Lone. No reason was given for the detentions.