Jammu and Kashmir DDC Polls 2020

The Jammu and Kashmir District Development Council Polls were the first major electoral exercise since the abrogation of Article 370 on 5th of August last year held in 8 phases beginning on 28th November and ending on 19th December. These DDCs are designed to undertake developmental objectives through direct funding from the Centre and each chairperson will share a status equivalent to that of a Junior Minister. 

The J and K DDC polls were held in 8 phases beginning on the 28th November and ending on the 19th December using ballot papers. It was the first electoral exercise post abrogation of Article 370.

The polls were perceived by the Centre as a sort of a referendum on the abrogation of Article 370 and the actions taken thereafter which the Opposition regional parties like the National Conference, J & K PDP dismissed it to be undemocratic and uncostitutional. The main opposition leaders were detained and kept under house arrest and the internet connections were snapped and not restored until this year. Following the release of the mainstream leaders this year, five parties National Conference, People's Democratic Party, Communist Party of India (M), Jammu and Kashmir People's Conference and Awami National Conference formed the People's Alliance of the Gupkar Declaration (PGAD) and decided to fight the polls together. 

The district map of Jammu and Kashmir. Whilst the PAGD won 9 out 10 districts in the Kashmir valley and is expected to tie up with the INC to win 4 in Jammu division, the BJP won 6 out of 10 in Jammu failing to win even a single one in the Valley.

The BJP had unleashed its election mode in the recently split Union-Territory deploying leaders and Central Ministers to convince the people of the benefits of the abrogation. The Opposition on the other hand alleged that many of their candidates were detained in hostels, guest houses and hotels and prevented from campaigning. They also said that they wanted the electorate to speak for itself because their comments maybe considered to be 'anti-national' by the Centre whose Home Minister already alleged it to promote secessionism and seperatism denouncing it as 'Gupkar Gang'. 

MoS Finance Anurag Thakur was the BJP's incharge for the J and K DDC polls. After the results he claimed that the 'Gupkar Gang' had lost its credibility since the BJP emerged as the Single largest party even grilling Mehbooba Mufti on getting the reply by the people to her apathy of holding the Tri-colour.

The counting of the votes began on 22nd December and continued till the next day amidst the freezing temperatures. The PGAD and the BJP made massive gains. The BJP emerged to be the single largest party in these polls gaining 75 seats. Its performance was fantastic in Jammu where it got 72 seats and may form the Council in 6 districts. However as per expectations it could muster only 3 in the Kashmir valley. The Centre backed Apni Party won 12. It seems the people of Jammu who were lamenting at the decision of the Centre to allow outsiders to purchase land and property in the state seems to register their support for the BJP.

Among the high-profile victors is Waheed Rehman Para, the President of the PDP's Youth Wing who was arrested by the National Investigation Agency for alleged links with terrorists soon after he filed his nomination papers from Pulwama.

The PAGD also made impressive gains winning 110 seats with the NC topping the list with 67 followed by the PDP at 27. It can form the Councils in 9 out of 10 districts in the Valley winning 72 seats. It showed a moderate performance at Jammu winning 35. The Congress is at a distant third winning 17 and 10 seats in Jammu and Kashmir respectively. However in order to form the Council in the remaining 4 districts of Jammu, the PAGD has to enlist the INC's help. Independents had portrayed an amazing show of strength winning 50 seats and are in majority in one district of the Kashmir valley. The election of large number of independents testify the growing apathy of the people with the mainstream political parties who are looking up to the local leaders. 

The Final Picture as released by the  Election Commission.

The amusing figures don't give a clear indication of whether the people of Jammu and Kashmir condone the Abrogation of Article 370 or condemn it. Both sides have claimed it to be their victory. Whilst senior leaders of the BJP, Ravi Shankar Prasad and Anurag Thakur stated that the results confirmed the confidence the state inhabitants have for the Centre's policies, the PAGD leaders like Omar Abdullah mentioned that the results were a display of the rejection of the BJP's subjugative politics along with their claims that the people of Jammu and Kashmir has happily accepted the abrogation and he went on speculating that it may prompt the Centre to stall any Assembly polls for an indefinite period due the BJP's sorry position and losses. They also mentioned that whenever elections using ballot papers were being conducted, the party leading the Centre was being defeated.

Former Chief Minister and National Conference Vice-president Omar Abdullah opined the polls rejected BJP's vindictive politics. His father Dr Farooq Abdullah is being investigated by the Enforcement Directorate for money-laundering allegations linked to the Jammu and Kashmir Cricket Association. 

People participated quite proactively and enthusiastically with an average 51.8% of voter turnout battling the cold weather and the deadly pandemic. For the BJP, the next milestone is securing a majority in the Karnataka local self government polls whose results will be declared on the 30th where the Congress is currently in majority. Only time will testify whether the aspirations of the Kashmiris who were locked up nearly for a year will be realised irrespective of whichever party or leaders form the Councils.