JAMMU: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) achieved a record-breaking victory in the Jammu division, winning 29 out of 43 Assembly seats, an improvement from the 25 it held in 2014.
In contrast, the Congress party experienced a historic low, securing just one seat in Rajouri. Prominent Congress figures, including former Deputy Chief Minister Tara Chand, along with several ex-ministers and legislators, suffered significant defeats.
While BJP celebrated its sweeping success, it faced a major setback when its Jammu and Kashmir unit president, Ravinder Raina, lost the Nowshera seat to Surinder Choudhary of the National Conference (NC). Other key BJP leaders, however, emerged victorious, although the party lost the Ramban and Chhamb constituencies.
The National Conference secured seven seats, while independent candidates claimed five. The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), led by Arvind Kejriwal, made its debut in the region, with Mehraj Malik winning the Doda seat.
Despite fierce competition, Congress won only one seat, marking its worst-ever performance in the region. Meanwhile, the Democratic Progressive Azad Party (DPAP), People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), Panthers Party, and Jammu and Kashmir Apni Party (JKAP) failed to secure any seats.
Notably, the BJP’s influence was evident in districts like Jammu, Samba, Kathua, Udhampur, and Reasi, where it won a dominant share of the seats. However, the party struggled in the Pir Panjal region, particularly in Rajouri and Poonch, where it secured just one out of eight seats.
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This election saw a rise in independent victories, with candidates like Satish Sharma defeating political heavyweights, including former Deputy Chief Minister Tara Chand in Chhamb. Several former ministers and prominent figures across parties, including the Congress and NC, suffered losses in this competitive election.
Out of 346 independent candidates in the fray, only seven succeeded in securing a seat, highlighting the intense electoral battle. As the BJP emerged victorious with 29 seats, only two of its Muslim candidates managed to retain their seats. The National Conference was able to secure victories for two Hindu candidates in Jammu.
The results marked the BJP’s best-ever performance in the Jammu region, solidifying its stronghold while the Congress party struggled to maintain its presence amidst fierce competition. The election saw fresh faces from the BJP, with many new candidates emerging victorious, ushering in a new wave of leadership in the region.