Srinagar: The National Conference has emerged as the clear frontrunner in Kashmir's 2024 Parliament elections, leading in 34 out of 54 assembly seats. The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) trails with a lead in five seats, while Independent candidate Engineer Rashid has secured a lead in 14 constituencies. People's Conference leader Sajad Lone leads in one seat, Handwara. No leads have been recorded for Altaf Bukhari's Apni Party or Ghulam Nabi Azad's Democratic Progressive Azad Party (DPAP).
Analysis of the 2024 Parliament elections across the three parliamentary constituencies of Kashmir—Baramulla, Srinagar, and Anantnag-Rajouri, each with 18 assembly segments—shows unfavorable numbers for new political outfits. Both Altaf Bukhari's Apni Party and Ghulam Nabi Azad's Democratic Progressive Azad Party (DPAP) are struggling to gain traction. Even Sajad Gani Lone, who considers North Kashmir his stronghold, has only secured a lead in one seat, Handwara. Despite support from the Apni Party, Lone is trailing in the remaining 17 assembly segments.
North Kashmir:
Budgam: The NC won with 30,259 votes, defeating Engineer Rashid who garnered 24,604 votes.
Gurez: Omar Abdullah of the NC received 3,977 votes, while Engineer Rashid got 2,231 votes. Pattan: Omar Abdullah led with 21,533 votes, surpassing Sajad Lone's People's Conference (PC) which received 17,124 votes, and Engineer Rashid with 17,112 votes.
Handwara: Sajad Gani Lone secured his sole lead here with 26,275 votes, followed by Engineer Rashid with 19,336 votes.
Srinagar Parliamentary Constituency: The NC is leading in 16 out of 18 assembly constituencies. The People's Democratic Party (PDP) leads in Rajpora with 16,615 votes and Shopian with 21,040 votes.
Notably, in Syed Altaf Bukhari's own constituency of Chanapora, NC's Aga Ruhullah Mehdi received 11,951 votes, while Bukhari's Apni Party only managed 3,101 votes.
Anantnag-Rajouri Parliamentary Constituency: The NC is leading in 15 of the 18 assembly segments. The PDP holds leads in three segments: Anantnag, Anantnag West, and Bijbehara.
Based on these parliamentary results, if assembly elections were held today in Kashmir, the National Conference would emerge as the single largest party with 35 seats. Engineer Rashid's Awami Ittehad Party would follow with 14 seats. The PDP would secure five seats, and the People's Conference would have one seat.
(KNO Inputs)