View source for Jammu & Kashmir: Local bodies’ elections

=2020=
==District Development Council (DDC) elections==
=== DDC polls see high voting in low-turnout areas===
[https://epaper.timesgroup.com/Olive/ODN/TimesOfIndia/shared/ShowArticle.aspx?doc=TOIDEL%2F2020%2F12%2F20&entity=Ar01520&sk=4D8C305C&mode=text  Bharti Jain, December 20, 2020: ''The Times of India'']

[[File: Voter turnout in the J&K DDC polls, 2020.jpg|Voter turnout in the J&K DDC polls, 2020 <br/> From: [https://epaper.timesgroup.com/Olive/ODN/TimesOfIndia/shared/ShowArticle.aspx?doc=TOIDEL%2F2020%2F12%2F20&entity=Ar01520&sk=4D8C305C&mode=text  Bharti Jain, December 20, 2020: ''The Times of India'']|frame|500px]]

The district development council (DDC) polls in J&K, which concluded, saw higher polling in traditional lowturnout areas such as Srinagar, Awantipora, Shopian and Anantnag, as compared to the parliamentary elections last year and even panchayat polls of 2018.

This, a senior J&K government functionary pointed out, was despite the polls being the first to be held after nullification of Article 370 in J&K and their timing in harsh winter. While Jammu region predictably saw brisk polling during all eight phases of DDC poll to clock an overall 68.4% turnout, Kashmir division too saw 34.4% turnout. The surprise package in Kashmir were conventionally low-polling areas such as Srinagar Awantipora and Anantnag.

Even terror-affected Pulwama and Shopian recorded a higher turnout than in 2019 Lok Sabha poll. “The significant increase in turnouts is significant for two reasons. Firstly, the DDC polls were the first electoral exercise to be held after the abrogation of Article 370 in J&K. Secondly, the People’s Alliance for Gupkar Declaration (PAGD) leaders had initially claimed that no one would participate in these polls. The higher percentages confirm Kashmiri people’s aspirations for a stronger grassroot democracy,” said a state functionary.

===PAGD, BJP perform best===
[https://epaper.timesgroup.com/Olive/ODN/TimesOfIndia/shared/ShowArticle.aspx?doc=TOIDEL%2F2020%2F12%2F23&entity=Ar00306&sk=F236068C&mode=text  Saleem Pandit, December 23, 2020: ''The Times of India'']

[[File: BJP gets 67 in Jammu.jpg|BJP gets 67 in Jammu <br/> From: [https://epaper.timesgroup.com/Olive/ODN/TimesOfIndia/shared/ShowArticle.aspx?doc=TOIDEL%2F2020%2F12%2F23&entity=Ar00306&sk=F236068C&mode=text  Saleem Pandit, December 23, 2020: ''The Times of India'']|frame|500px]]

The People’s Alliance for Gupkar Declaration (PAGD), a conglomeration of seven parties, took a significant lead in the first-ever District Development Council (DDC) elections in Jammu and Kashmir even as the alliance’s main opponent, the BJP, emerged as the single largest party, sweeping the polls in many districts in the Jammu region while making some inroads in the valley.

However, it is the independents — 44 of whom have already won — who will call the shots in many places, particularly in the valley. Nearly 20 more independents were leading in the counting, according to reports.

The DDC poll was the first electoral exercise since the nullification of Article 370 on August 5 last year. Voting was held in 280 seats — 14 in each of the 20 districts of the Union Territory.


''' NC best performer in Gupkar alliance '''

While PAGD surged ahead in the Kashmir region, BJP retained its upper hand in the Jammu region. The results of 247 of the 280 seats were available at the time of going to press, with PAGD winning in 97 seats and BJP in 70.

In the Farooq Abdullah-led PAGD, the former chief minister’s National Conference was the biggest winner with 57 seats, followed by his former arch-rival Mehbooba Mufti’s PDP, which won 26 seats. While Sajjad Lone’s People’s Conference won six seats, two other constituents of PAGD — CPM and Jammu and Kashmir People’s Movement — won five and three seats, respectively. CPI and Awami National Conference, the other two partners in the seven-party alliance, drew a blank.

Congress, which had initially taken part in deliberations with PAGD but distanced itself following criticism, won 22 seats, while Altaf Bukhari’s nine-month-old Apni Party, considered close to BJP, bagged 10 seats.

BJP won most of its seats from the Jammu region and only three wins came from the valley.

In the Jammu region, BJP was in a clear position to take control of DDCs in Kathua, Samba, Reasi and Udhampur districts. In Jammu district, all the three seats went to the saffron party.

In the valley, PAGD was all set to helm DDCs in Anantnag, Budgam, Ganderbal, Pulwama and Kulgam.

NC leader Omar Abdullah downplayed BJP’s victory in three seats in the valley and tweeted: “I understand the temptation to over play the 3 seats the BJP has won in the valley but why underplay the 35 wins/leads of the@JKPAGD in Jammu province. We aren’t Kashmir based parties, we are political parties with strong support in both Kashmir AND Jammu.”

While PAGD had a decisive upper hand in the valley, it suffered a shock defeat in Srinagar, where only five of its candidates could win, with independents emerging victorious in seven seats and BJP and Apni Party winning one seat each. Though Apni Party won just one seat in Srinagar, the electoral arithmetic seems to be in its favour when it comes to taking control of the DDC as most victorious independents are backed by Bukhari. After winning the recently held mayoral elections, the mayor of Srinagar Municipal Corporation joined Apni Party.

Similarly, in Kupwara, Apni Party has won two seats so far. But sources said that six independents backed by Bukhari have won, giving his party the much-needed edge in forming the DDC.

Apni Party or the independents backed by it have won some seats in Baramulla, Ganderbal, Bandipora, Shopian and Anantnag as well.

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