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2008 Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly election

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2008 Jammu and Kashmir state assembly elections

← 2002 17 November 2008 to 24 December 2008 2014 →

all 87 seats in Legislative Assembly
44 seats needed for a majority
Registered6,461,757
Turnout61.16% (Increase17.46%)
  First party Second party Third party
 
Leader Omar Abdullah Mehbooba Mufti
Party JKNC JKPDP INC
Last election 28 16 20
Seats won 28 21 17
Seat change Steady Increase 5 Decrease 3
Percentage 23.07% 15.39% 17.71%
Swing Decrease 5.17% Increase 6.11% Decrease 6.53%

  Fourth party Fifth party
 
Leader Bhim Singh
Party BJP JKNPP
Last election 1 4
Seats won 11 3
Seat change Increase 10 Decrease 1
Percentage 12.45% 3.33%
Swing Increase 3.88% Decrease 0.5%

Chief Minister before election

Ghulam Nabi Azad
INC

Elected Chief Minister

Omar Abdullah
JKNC

Elections for the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir were held over seven days in November and December 2008. The previous government led by the Jammu and Kashmir People's Democratic Party (PDP) in coalition with the Indian National Congress (INC) collapsed when the PDP withdrew. Following the election, the Jammu & Kashmir National Conference (NC) agreed on a coalition with Congress and their leader, Omar Abdullah became the state's youngest-ever Chief Minister at 38.

Background

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Elections for the Jammu and Kashmir state Assembly were due in 2008, following the end of the term of the Assembly elected in 2002. However, the PDP withdrew from the INC-led state government in protest at the Amarnath land transfer decision. The INC government resigned in July 2008 and the state was brought under the direct rule of the central government pending the elections.[1]

Boycott

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The main Kashmiri separatist group, the All Parties Hurriyat Conference called on Kashmiris to boycott the elections, saying the elections were a "futile exercise" that would never "fulfill the aspirations of the people".[2]

Despite these boycott calls, NC leaders claimed that activists from Jamaat-e-Islami had come out and voted for the PDP.[3]

There were scattered separatist protests throughout the elections, including hundreds who protested in Srinagar. Police prevented these protestors from marching to the center of the city which led to protestors throwing stones at the police who fired tear gas and used baton charges.[4]

Security

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Indian election officials voiced major concerns about the security of the elections given the calls for a boycott and protest from separatist leaders and the recent violence over the Amarnath land transfer controversy. Voting was staggered so that security forces could maintain control. Thousands of security forces were deployed during the voting. In Srinagar, security forces were posted at junctions, patrolled the streets, and guarded polling stations. An unofficial curfew was enforced, gatherings of more than five people banned and neighborhoods were sealed off with steel barricades and razor wire.[4]

Police also arrested three men they accused of being Jaish-e-Mohammed members planning suicide attacks in Jammu.[5] One of those arrested was a soldier in the Army of Pakistan, who Pakistan said had deserted in 2006.[4] However following the polls the NC leader, Farooq Abdullah, thanked the Pakistan government for their "non-interference" with the polls.[6]

Results

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The seven stages of the elections were held as follows:

Voting stages
Date Seats Turnout
Monday 17 November 10 69.02%
Sunday 23 November 6 68.29%
Sunday 30 November 5 68.22%
Sunday 7 December 18 59.24%
Saturday 13 December 11 58.5%
Wednesday 17 December 16 65.93%
Wednesday 24 December 21 52.0%
Total 87 60.5%
Source:[7][8]

Turnout rose by 17%, despite calls from Kashmiri separatists and Pakistan for Kashmiris to boycott the election.[8][9] INC head Sonia Gandhi described the polls as "a triumph of Indian democracy".

Separatist supporters were said to have backed the PDP.[9] The BJP's increase in support was said to be due to polarisation arising from the Amarnath land transfer controversy, which led it to increase its seat tally from 1 to 11 seats.[10]

1,354 candidates stood for election including 517 independents and nominees from 43 political parties.[11]

Summary

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Summary of the November - December 2008 Jammu and Kashmir state assembly election results
Party Flag Seats +/–
National Conference 28 0
People's Democratic Party 21 Increase5
Indian National Congress 17 Decrease3
Bharatiya Janata Party 11 Increase10
Jammu & Kashmir National Panthers Party 3 Decrease1
Communist Party of India (Marxist) 1 Decrease1
People's Democratic Front 1
Jammu & Kashmir Democratic Party Nationalist 1
Independents 4
Total (turnout 60.5%) 87
Source: Electoral Commission of India[permanent dead link]

Elected Members

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Constituency Reserved for
(SC/None)
Member Party
Karnah None Kafil Ur Rehman Jammu & Kashmir National Conference
Kupwara None Mir Saifullah Jammu & Kashmir National Conference
Lolab None Abdul Haq Khan Jammu and Kashmir Peoples Democratic Party
Handwara None Chowdary Mohd Ramzan Jammu & Kashmir National Conference
Langate None Ab Rashid Sheikh Independent
Uri None Taj Mohi-ud-din Indian National Congress
Rafiabad None Javaid Ahmad Dar Jammu & Kashmir National Conference
Sopore None Mohd Ashraf Ganie Jammu & Kashmir National Conference
Gurez None Nazir Ahmad Khan Jammu & Kashmir National Conference
Bandipora None Nizamuddin Bhat Jammu and Kashmir Peoples Democratic Party
Sonawari None Mohd. Akbar Lone Jammu & Kashmir National Conference
Sangrama None Syed Basharat Ahmad Jammu and Kashmir Peoples Democratic Party
Baramulla None Muzaffar Hussain Baig Jammu and Kashmir Peoples Democratic Party
Gulmarg None Gh Hassan Mir Jammu & Kashmir Democratic Party Nationalist
Pattan None Iftikhar Hussain Ansari Jammu and Kashmir Peoples Democratic Party
Kangan None Altaf Ahmad Jammu & Kashmir National Conference
Ganderbal None Omar Abdullah Jammu & Kashmir National Conference
Hazratbal None Farooq Abdullah Jammu & Kashmir National Conference
Zadibal None Peer Aafaq Ahmed Jammu & Kashmir National Conference
Idgah None Mubarak Ahmad Gul Jammu & Kashmir National Conference
Khanyar None Ali Mohammad Sagar Jammu & Kashmir National Conference
Habbakadal None Shameema Firdous Jammu & Kashmir National Conference
Amirakadal None Nasir Aslam Wani Jammu & Kashmir National Conference
Sonawar None Farooq Abdullah Jammu & Kashmir National Conference
Batamaloo None Mohamad Irfan Shah Jammu & Kashmir National Conference
Chadoora None Javaid Mustaffa Mir Jammu and Kashmir Peoples Democratic Party
Badgam None Aga Syed Ruhullah Jammu & Kashmir National Conference
Beerwah None Shafi Ahmad Wani Jammu and Kashmir Peoples Democratic Party
Khansahib None Hakeem Mohammad Yasin People's Democratic Front, Jammu and Kashmir
Chrari Sharief None Abdul Rahim Rather Jammu & Kashmir National Conference
Tral None Mushtaq Ahmad Shah Jammu and Kashmir Peoples Democratic Party
Pampore None Zahoor Ahmad Jammu and Kashmir Peoples Democratic Party
Pulwama None Mohd Khalil Bandh Jammu and Kashmir Peoples Democratic Party
Rajpora None Syed Bashir Ahmad Shah Jammu and Kashmir Peoples Democratic Party
Wachi None Mehbooba Mufti Jammu and Kashmir Peoples Democratic Party
Shopian None Abdul Razaq Wagay Jammu and Kashmir Peoples Democratic Party
Noorabad None Sakina Itoo Jammu & Kashmir National Conference
Kulgam None Mohammed Yousuf Tarigami Communist Party of India
Homeshalibugh None Abdul Gaffar Sofi Jammu and Kashmir Peoples Democratic Party
Anantnag None Mufti Mohammad Sayeed Jammu and Kashmir Peoples Democratic Party
Devsar None Mohammad Sartaj Madni Jammu and Kashmir Peoples Democratic Party
Dooru None Ghulam Ahmad Mir Indian National Congress
Kokernag None Peerzada Mohd. Syed Indian National Congress
Shangus None Peerzada Mansoor Hussain Jammu and Kashmir Peoples Democratic Party
Bijbehara None Abdul Rehman Bhat Jammu and Kashmir Peoples Democratic Party
Pahalgam None Rafi Ahmad Mir Jammu and Kashmir Peoples Democratic Party
Nobra None Tsetan Namgyal Independent
Leh None Nawang Rigzin Indian National Congress
Kargil None Qamar Ali Akhoon Jammu & Kashmir National Conference
Zanskar None Feroz Ahmed Khan Jammu & Kashmir National Conference
Kishtwar None Sajjad Ahmad Kichloo Jammu & Kashmir National Conference
Inderwal None Ghulam Mohd Saroori Indian National Congress
Doda None Abdul Majid Wani Indian National Congress
Bhaderwah None Ghulam Nabi Azad Indian National Congress
Ramban SC Ashok Kumar Indian National Congress
Banihal None Vikar Rasool Indian National Congress
Gulabgarh None Abdul Gani Malik Jammu & Kashmir National Conference
Reasi None Baldev Raj Bharatiya Janata Party
Gool Arnas None Ajaz Ahmed Khan Indian National Congress
Udhampur None Balwant Singh Mankotia Jammu and Kashmir National Panthers Party
Chanani SC Krishan Chander Indian National Congress
Ramnagar None Harsh Dev Singh Jammu and Kashmir National Panthers Party
Bani None Lal Chand Bharatiya Janata Party
Basohli None Jagdish Raj Sapolia Bharatiya Janata Party
Kathua None Charanjit Singh Independent
Billawar None Manohar Lal Sharma Indian National Congress
Hiranagar SC Durga Dass Bharatiya Janata Party
Samba SC Yash Paul Kundal Jammu and Kashmir National Panthers Party
Vijaypur None Surjit Singh Jammu & Kashmir National Conference
Nagrota None Jugal Kishore Bharatiya Janata Party
Gandhinagar None Raman Bhalla Indian National Congress
Jammu East None Ashok Kumar Khajuria Bharatiya Janata Party
Jammu West None Chaman Lal Gupta Bharatiya Janata Party
Bishnah None Ashwani Kumar Sharma Independent
R.s. Pura SC Gharu Ram Bhagat Bharatiya Janata Party
Suchetgarh None Sham Lal Choudhary Bharatiya Janata Party
Marh None Sukh Nandan Kumar Bharatiya Janata Party
Raipur Domana SC Bharat Bhushan Bharatiya Janata Party
Akhnoor None Sham Lal Sharma Indian National Congress
Chhamb SC Tara Chand Indian National Congress
Nowshera None Radhay Sham Sharma Jammu & Kashmir National Conference
Darhal None Zulfkar Ali Jammu and Kashmir Peoples Democratic Party
Rajouri None Shabbir Ahmed Khan Indian National Congress
Kalakote None Rachhpal Singh Jammu & Kashmir National Conference
Surankote None Mohd. Aslam Indian National Congress
Mendhar None Sardar Rafiq Hussain Khan Jammu and Kashmir Peoples Democratic Party
Poonch Haveli None Ajaz Ahmed Jan Jammu & Kashmir National Conference

Government formation

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Former National Conference Chief Minister, Farooq Abdullah, said he did not want to return as it "required the energy of a younger man", and nominated his son, Omar Abdullah, and the head of the Jammu & Kashmir National Conference instead.[12]

Congress debated forming a coalition with either Conference or the PDP. It was reported that the PDP had offered to support a Congress candidate for Chief Minister if they joined with them. However, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Congress chairperson Sonia Gandhi were reported to favor the largest party to "honor the mandate" of the election.[13]

On 30 December Congress and the National Conference agreed to form a coalition government, with Omar Abdullah as Chief Minister.[14]

References

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  1. ^ Amarnath row divides Jammu and Kashmir Archived 2008-08-10 at the Wayback Machine NDTV, 16 August 2008
  2. ^ APHC to boycott Kashmir elections later this year[permanent dead link] Pakistan Times, 11 May 2008
  3. ^ Despite boycott call, Jamaat cadres come out in support of PDP Indian Express, 23 December 2008
  4. ^ a b c Voting ends in Indian Kashmir amid heavy security International Herald Tribune, 24 December 2008
  5. ^ Clashes mark final Kashmir poll BBC News, 24 December 2008
  6. ^ Pakistan conundrum hangs over Kashmir poll success The Hindu, 30 December 2008
  7. ^ "7-phase poll in J&K from November 17". Rediff. 19 October 2008. Retrieved 24 April 2018.
  8. ^ a b Low voter turnout in final phase, Rediff India, 2008-12-24
  9. ^ a b Abdullahs back in J&K Times of India, 29 December 2009
  10. ^ BJP fields more Muslim candidates in J&K to shrug off communal tag
  11. ^ 35 political parties failed to win a seat in J&K polls Rediff India, 29 December 2008
  12. ^ Kashmiri parties in coalition bid BBC News, 29 December 2008
  13. ^ Cong dilemma: young Omar or PDP Calcutta Telegraph, 29 December 2008
  14. ^ Pro-India parties to take power in Indian Kashmir International Herald Tribune, 30 December 2008