2024 Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly election

Legislative Assembly elections were held in Jammu and Kashmir from 18 September to 1 October 2024 in 3 phases to elect 90 members of Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly. The results of the elections were announced on 8 October 2024. The INDIA alliance won a majority of seats in the election, winning 49 of the 90 seats for which elections were held, with the Jammu and Kashmir National Conference (JKNC) winning the highest number of seats. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) won the second largest number of seats and the largest share of the popular vote.

This was the first assembly election in over a decade, and the first since the territory's special status was revoked, its statehood withdrawn, martial curfew imposed and over 300 political leaders detained or under house arrest in 2019. Indian government indefinitely suspended elections, for stabilizing the conditions in Kashmir Valley due to the decades long ongoing armed insurgency in Jammu and Kashmir. A Supreme Court plea challenging this was brought forward by Panthers Party in May 2023. In December 2023, the Supreme Court directed the Election Commission of India to restore the democratic process by 30 September 2024. The order also upheld the revocation of article 370 and deemed it to be within the laws set by the constitution. Foreign diplomats were allowed to observe the election but foreign journalists were kept out.

JKNC emerged as the single largest party, winning 42 seats in total, while BJP came second with 29 seats won. The Indian National Congress (INC) won 6 seats, Jammu and Kashmir People’s Democratic Party (JKPDP) won 3 seats, while Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPI(M)), Jammu and Kashmir People's Conference and Aam Aadmi Party won one seat each. 7 seats were won by independent candidates. After BJP's 25.64% largest share of the popular vote, JKNC won the second largest share at 23.43%. The INC and JKPDP got 11.97% and 8.87% of the votes respectively, with remaining 30.09% going to other parties, independents and NOTA (none of the above). Coincidentally, this was the worst performance of the Indian National Congress, winning just 6 out of the 38 seats it contested and garnering a vote share of 11.97%. The JKNC's Omar Abdullah was sworn in as the union territory's first chief minister on 16 October.

Background

The previous assembly elections were held in November–December 2014. After the election, coalition of Jammu and Kashmir Peoples Democratic Party and Bharatiya Janata Party formed the state government, with Mufti Mohammad Sayeed becoming the Chief Minister.

Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed died on 7 January 2016. After a brief period of Governor's rule, Mehbooba Mufti was sworn in as the next Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir.

Political developments

Dissolution of assembly and President's rule

In June 2018, BJP withdrew its support to the PDP-led government and Governor's rule was subsequently imposed in Jammu and Kashmir. In November 2018, the state assembly was dissolved by Governor of Jammu and Kashmir Satya Pal Malik. despite the fact that many political parties had written to the Governor expressing their willingness to form the Government. President's rule was imposed on 20 December 2018.

Revocation of Article 370 and reorganisation of state

In 2019, Article 370 of the Constitution of India, which gave special status to the disputed Jammu and Kashmir, was abrogated and the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act was passed to reconstitute the state of Jammu and Kashmir into union territory of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh with effect from 31 October 2019. The changes allowed Hindu refugees residing in Jammu who were displaced from Pakistan following Partition in 1947 to vote in state elections.

Delimitation

In March 2020, a three-member Delimitation Commission was formed, chaired by retired Justice Ranjana Prakash Desai, for the delimitation of the union territory of Jammu and Kashmir. The commission published its interim report in February 2022. The final delimitation report was released on 5 May 2022 under which additional 6 seats were added to Jammu division and 1 seat to Kashmir division. After delimitation, the total seats in the assembly rose to 114 seats, out of which 24 seats are designated for areas that fall under Pakistan-administered Kashmir. Out of the remaining 90 seats, 43 seats are in Jammu division and 47 seats are in the Kashmir division. The final delimitation report came into force from 20 May 2022.

DDC elections

In 2020, DDC elections were held after revocation of special status. People's Alliance for Gupkar Declaration (PAGD) secured 110 seats, while BJP was the single largest party with 75 seats.

Supreme Court verdict on abrogation on Article 370

On 11 December 2023, the Supreme Court in its verdict upheld the abrogation of article 370 as constitutional and ordered the Election Commission of India to hold legislative assembly elections in Indian-administered Jammu and Kashmir before 30 September 2024.

Reservation for SC/STs

The parliament passed the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation (Amendment) Bill 2023 which provides for reservation of 7 seats for the Scheduled Castes and 9 seats for the Scheduled Tribes.

Jammu and Kashmir lithium reserves

On 2 May 2024, Ministry of Mines secretary Vivek Bharadwaj announced that an auction to assign mining rights was planned on priority basis by December 2024. Former minister and JKNPP president Harsh Dev Singh, challenged the legal premise, upon which the federal government planned to assign mineral rights valued at US$500 billion (half a trillion dollars). On 29 May 2023, Harsh Dev, stated that in accordance to Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act 1957, only a federated state or union territory government had the lawful right to hold auctions and assign mining concessions for minerals found on land. In December 2023, the first attempt to auction Jammu and Kashmir lithium failed. As the auction only received two bids, as per legislation a minimum of three bids is required for the auction to be considered valid. In July 2024 a second attempt by the central Indian government of auction Jammu and Kashmir's lithium failed to receive any bids.

Schedule

The schedule of the election was announced by the Election Commission of India on 16 August 2024. The date of counting of votes was postponed from 4 to 8 October.

Parties and alliances

Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance

  Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance

Alliance between Jammu & Kashmir National Conference, Indian National Congress and Communist Party of India (Marxist) was announced on 22 August 2024. The seat sharing was finalized on 26 August 2024 with friendly contest on 6 seats between alliance partners.

National Democratic Alliance

  National Democratic Alliance

Jammu and Kashmir People's Democratic Party

Others

Candidates

JKNC released the first list of 18 candidates on 26 August; the second list of 32 candidates on 27 August; the third list of four candidates on 8 September.

INC released the first list of 9 candidates on 26 August; the second list of 6 candidates on 2 September; the third list of 19 candidates on 9 September.

BJP released the first list of 15 candidates and the second list of one candidate on 26 August; the third list of 29 candidates on 27 August; the fourth list of 6 candidates on 2 September. BJP released sixth list of 10 candidates on 8 September.

JKPDP announced 25 candidates on 26 August; 17 candidates on 28 August; 4 candidates on 29 August; 8 candidates on 30 August; 6 candidates on 1 September; 2 candidates on 3 September; 1 candidate on 6 September.

Observers

Diplomats from 16 countries, including the United States and Russia, observed the voting in Srinagar.

Voter turnout

Surveys and polls

Exit polls

Exit polls were released on 5 October 2024.