2008 Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly election

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2008 Jammu and Kashmir state assembly elections
Jammu and Kashmir Flag (1952-2019).svg
  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% (Increase2.svg17.46%)
 First partySecond partyThird party
  Omar Abdullah (portrait).jpg Ghulam Nabi Lone Hanjura (cropped).jpg Hand INC.svg
Leader Omar Abdullah Mehbooba Mufti
Party JKNC JKPDP INC
Last election281620
Seats won282117
Seat changeSteady2.svgIncrease2.svg 5Decrease2.svg 3
Percentage23.07%15.39%17.71%
SwingDecrease2.svg 5.17%Increase2.svg 6.11%Decrease2.svg 6.53%

 Fourth partyFifth party
  Lotus flower symbol.svg Indian Election Symbol Cycle.png
Leader Bhim Singh
Party BJP JKNPP
Last election14
Seats won113
Seat changeIncrease2.svg 10Decrease2.svg 1
Percentage12.45%3.33%
SwingIncrease2.svg 3.88%Decrease2.svg 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.

Contents

Background

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

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

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

The seven stages of the elections were held as follows:

Voting stages Jammu Kashmir state elections, 2008 stages.svg
Voting stages
DateSeatsTurnout
Monday 17 November1069.02%
Sunday 23 November668.29%
Sunday 30 November568.22%
Sunday 7 December1859.24%
Saturday 13 December1158.5%
Wednesday 17 December1665.93%
Wednesday 24 December2152.0%
Total8760.5%
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

Summary of the November - December 2008 Jammu and Kashmir state assembly election results
India Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly 2008.svg
PartyFlagSeats+/–
National Conference Flag of Jammu and Kashmir (1936-1953).svg 280
People's Democratic Party 21Increase2.svg5
Indian National Congress 17Decrease2.svg3
Bharatiya Janata Party 11Increase2.svg10
Jammu & Kashmir National Panthers Party Indian Election Symbol Cycle.png 3Decrease2.svg1
Communist Party of India (Marxist) CPI-M-flag.svg 1Decrease2.svg1
People's Democratic Front 1
Jammu & Kashmir Democratic Party Nationalist 1
Independents4
Total (turnout 60.5%)87
Source: Electoral Commission of India [ permanent dead link ]

Elected Members

ConstituencyReserved for
(SC/None)
MemberParty
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 NoneChowdary Mohd Ramzan Jammu & Kashmir National Conference
Langate NoneAb Rashid Sheikh Independent
Uri None Taj Mohi-ud-din Indian National Congress
Rafiabad None Javaid Ahmad Dar Jammu & Kashmir National Conference
Sopore NoneMohd 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 NoneMohd. 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 NoneAltaf 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 NoneAli Mohammad Sagar Jammu & Kashmir National Conference
Habbakadal NoneShameema Firdous Jammu & Kashmir National Conference
Amirakadal NoneNasir Aslam Wani Jammu & Kashmir National Conference
Sonawar NoneFarooq Abdullah Jammu & Kashmir National Conference
Batamaloo NoneMohamad Irfan Shah Jammu & Kashmir National Conference
Chadoora NoneJavaid Mustaffa Mir Jammu and Kashmir Peoples Democratic Party
Badgam NoneAga Syed Ruhullah Jammu & Kashmir National Conference
Beerwah NoneShafi Ahmad Wani Jammu and Kashmir Peoples Democratic Party
Khansahib NoneHakeem Mohammad YasinPeople's Democratic Front, Jammu and Kashmir
Chrari Sharief NoneAbdul Rahim Rather Jammu & Kashmir National Conference
Tral NoneMushtaq Ahmad Shah Jammu and Kashmir Peoples Democratic Party
Pampore NoneZahoor Ahmad Jammu and Kashmir Peoples Democratic Party
Pulwama NoneMohd Khalil Bandh Jammu and Kashmir Peoples Democratic Party
Rajpora NoneSyed Bashir Ahmad Shah Jammu and Kashmir Peoples Democratic Party
Wachi NoneMehbooba Mufti Jammu and Kashmir Peoples Democratic Party
Shopian NoneAbdul Razaq Wagay Jammu and Kashmir Peoples Democratic Party
Noorabad None Sakina Itoo Jammu & Kashmir National Conference
Kulgam NoneMohammed Yousuf Tarigami Communist Party of India
Homeshalibugh NoneAbdul Gaffar Sofi Jammu and Kashmir Peoples Democratic Party
Anantnag NoneMufti Mohammad Sayeed Jammu and Kashmir Peoples Democratic Party
Devsar NoneMohammad Sartaj Madni Jammu and Kashmir Peoples Democratic Party
Dooru NoneGhulam Ahmad Mir Indian National Congress
Kokernag NonePeerzada Mohd. Syed Indian National Congress
Shangus NonePeerzada Mansoor Hussain Jammu and Kashmir Peoples Democratic Party
Bijbehara NoneAbdul Rehman Bhat Jammu and Kashmir Peoples Democratic Party
Pahalgam NoneRafi Ahmad Mir Jammu and Kashmir Peoples Democratic Party
Nobra NoneTsetan Namgyal Independent
Leh NoneNawang Rigzin Indian National Congress
Kargil NoneQamar Ali Akhoon Jammu & Kashmir National Conference
Zanskar NoneFeroz Ahmed Khan Jammu & Kashmir National Conference
Kishtwar NoneSajjad Ahmad Kichloo Jammu & Kashmir National Conference
Inderwal NoneGhulam Mohd Saroori Indian National Congress
Doda NoneAbdul Majid Wani Indian National Congress
Bhaderwah NoneGhulam Nabi Azad Indian National Congress
Ramban SCAshok Kumar Indian National Congress
Banihal NoneVikar Rasool Indian National Congress
Gulabgarh NoneAbdul Gani Malik Jammu & Kashmir National Conference
Reasi NoneBaldev Raj Bharatiya Janata Party
Gool Arnas NoneAjaz Ahmed Khan Indian National Congress
Udhampur NoneBalwant Singh Mankotia Jammu and Kashmir National Panthers Party
Chanani SCKrishan Chander Indian National Congress
Ramnagar NoneHarsh Dev Singh Jammu and Kashmir National Panthers Party
Bani NoneLal Chand Bharatiya Janata Party
Basohli NoneJagdish Raj Sapolia Bharatiya Janata Party
Kathua NoneCharanjit Singh Independent
Billawar NoneManohar Lal Sharma Indian National Congress
Hiranagar SCDurga Dass Bharatiya Janata Party
Samba SCYash Paul Kundal Jammu and Kashmir National Panthers Party
Vijaypur NoneSurjit Singh Jammu & Kashmir National Conference
Nagrota NoneJugal Kishore Bharatiya Janata Party
Gandhinagar NoneRaman Bhalla Indian National Congress
Jammu East NoneAshok Kumar Khajuria Bharatiya Janata Party
Jammu West NoneChaman Lal Gupta Bharatiya Janata Party
Bishnah NoneAshwani Kumar Sharma Independent
R.s. Pura SCGharu Ram Bhagat Bharatiya Janata Party
Suchetgarh NoneSham Lal Choudhary Bharatiya Janata Party
Marh NoneSukh Nandan Kumar Bharatiya Janata Party
Raipur Domana SCBharat Bhushan Bharatiya Janata Party
Akhnoor NoneSham Lal Sharma Indian National Congress
Chhamb SCTara Chand Indian National Congress
Nowshera NoneRadhay Sham Sharma Jammu & Kashmir National Conference
Darhal NoneZulfkar Ali Jammu and Kashmir Peoples Democratic Party
Rajouri NoneShabbir Ahmed Khan Indian National Congress
Kalakote NoneRachhpal Singh Jammu & Kashmir National Conference
Surankote NoneMohd. Aslam Indian National Congress
Mendhar NoneSardar Rafiq Hussain Khan Jammu and Kashmir Peoples Democratic Party
Poonch Haveli NoneAjaz Ahmed Jan Jammu & Kashmir National Conference

Government formation

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]

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References

  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. 1 2 3 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. 1 2 Low voter turnout in final phase, Rediff India, 2008-12-24
  9. 1 2 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