Almost 45 percent of the contesting candidates are either independents or from lesser known political groups, which are active Pan-India or some parts of India. Jamaat-e-Islami, which has remained banned in India and did not participate in elections except for 1972 and became a part of Muslim United Front (MUF), which contested the Assembly elections in 1987, when attracted the attention of the voters in Kashmir.
In 1987 Assembly elections, the MUF was reported to have been leading in about a dozen or more segments before their candidates were declared defeated. The J&K National Conference-Congress aliance after Rajiv Gandhi-Farooq Abdullah cornered majority of the seats. The elections were alleged to have been rigged.
How will the independents and nominees of smaller parties impact the outcome of the on-going elections will be interesting to watch in the days to come.
Jammu and Kashmir Assembly Elections in 2024 are being conducted after 10 years. The last Legislative Assembly Elections were conducted in 2014. Bhartiya Janta Party and J&K People’s Democratic Party formed a coalition government with Mufti Mohammad Sayeed as Chief Minister in 2015.
In 2016, Mehbooba Mufti became the Chief Minister after Mufti Mohammad Sayeed’s death in February 2016. Mehbooba Mufti resigned as Chief Minister after BJP withdrew support on June 18, 2018. Since then J&K has been under Governor’s Rule.
On August 5, 2019, J&K Reorganisation Act was promulgated after passage in Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha. Jammu and Kashmir was bifurcated into two Union Territories of Ladakh and Jammu and Kashmir and special status was withdrawn. Now Lieutenant Governors have been posted in J&K and Ladakh with more powers.
The Congress-National Conference Alliance before the elections will be an interesting combination to watch.
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