New Delhi:
The National Conference (NC) led by former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah has decided to end its ties with the Congress party and may now contest the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly Elections alone, according to the reports. The assembly polls in the state may take place later this year. The development came after the Congress failed to open its account in the state in Lok Sabha polls for which the party blamed the National Conference. Congress had alleged that Farooq and Omar Abdullah did not campaign for the party in Jammu.
The state voted in the first four phases of Lok Sabha Elections 2019 on April 11, 18, 23, 29 and May 6. There are six seats in the state with prime parties being Jammu and Kashmir Peoples Democratic Party, BJP, Congress and Jammu and Kashmir National Conference. The six Jammu and Kashmir seats are: Jammu, Baramulla, Srinagar, Udhampur, Anantnag and Ladakh. The voting percentage in Jammu and Kashmir was recorded to be the lowest in the country in national election 2019. In 2014 Lok Sabha Polls, the BJP won three seats and Jammu and Kashmir Peoples Democratic Party won three seats.
Amidst huge security arrangements, calls for an election boycott, incidents of violence, the Lok Sabha elections in Jammu and Kashmir concluded on May 6 after polling in the first five phases. As per reports, while Jammu and Ladakh saw increased voter turnout, Kashmir valley witnessed one of the worst turnouts in recent decades. 2019 saw overall lesser voter turnout(44.51%), as compared to 49.52% in 2014.
