New Delhi: Following the successful District Development Council (DDC) elections in Jammu and Kashmir, the top leadership of the BJP has come out hailing the “victory of democracy” in the Union Territory that has long been plagued by terrorism. Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad has called it a resounding slap to terrorists, separatists and their patrons by the people of J&K.
“The peacefully conducted DDC elections in Jammu and Kashmir are a victory of Indian democracy and the triumph of the people. It is a resounding slap by the people of J&K to terrorists, separatists and their patrons. Political parties of Jammu and Kashmir, who were part of the Gupkar Alliance, already knew that they would not be able to fight and defeat the Bharatiya Janata Party alone, so they formed the unholy alliance. This is the new reality of J&K, BJP is the single largest party in the state,” said the Union Minister.
In the recently concluded elections, the Farooq Abdullah-led seven-party Gupkar alliance won 110 seats, while the BJP emerged as the single largest party by getting 75 seats after securing the largest vote share in the Union Territory.
“The voter turnout in Kashmir, especially in places known as ‘hotbeds of terror’, has been much higher than in previous elections, before the scrapping of Article 370,” he added.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah too tweeted post the completion of the DDC elections and said, “The Modi government is doing everything possible to restore grassroots democracy in Jammu and Kashmir. The recently held DDC polls for the first time in the history of J&K are the testimony of the same. The mass participation in these elections reflects people’s faith in democracy.”
Congratulating the people of Jammu and Kashmir for “such a great turnout” in the DDC elections, the Home minister applauded the efforts of the security forces and local administration for “successfully conducting these multi-phased elections as this will further boost the morale and trust of people of the UT in democracy”.
Adding to his message, Ravi Shankar Prasad also said that earlier, people used to carry stones and indulged in violence in Kashmir and “now we see them carrying ballot papers to exercise their franchise, which is a clear indication of a big victory of our strong democracy and our democratic principles”.
He further pointed out that in places like Kulgam, Shopian and Pulwama, which have been the most affected by terrorism, heavy polling took place. Sopore in north Kashmir, which was badly affected by the separatist movement, too saw strong polling taking place. Others like Bandipora, Badgam and Ganderbal also saw heavy voter turnout.
Taking a swipe at the alliance, Prasad said, “In these elections, the people of Jammu and Kashmir have clearly identified and segregated those parties who just rule in the state from the party who really works for the people. For the first time, the people of Jammu and Kashmir have realised that development can be brought in the state by following the path of democracy. They have also realised that growth, peace and prosperity were standing at their doorsteps that can now be brought only through democracy.”
In the first polls in Jammu and Kashmir since it lost special status last year under Article 370 and was turned into two Union Territories, the Gupkar alliance, along with the Congress, won in 13 districts. The BJP won in six districts in Jammu.
The People’s Alliance for Gupkar Declaration—a grouping of mainstream J&K-based parties including rivals National Conference of Farooq Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti’s People’s Democratic Party (PDP)—won more than 100 seats, but the BJP emerged as the single largest party. The Congress won 26 seats. The first-ever DDC polls in the state was held across 20 districts.
In Kashmir, the Farooq Abdullah-led alliance scored 72 seats, the BJP won three seats. Independent candidates have emerged as big winners with 49 seats, which place them ahead of the Congress and the PDP. In Jammu, the BJP won 71 seats, while the National Conference and Congress won 45 seats.