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2008 Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly election

State assembly election in India

2008 Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly election

State assembly election in India

FieldValue
election_name2008 Jammu and Kashmir state assembly elections
countryJammu and Kashmir (state)
typeparliamentary
previous_election2002 Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly election
previous_year2002
election_date17 November 2008 to 24 December 2008
next_election2014 Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly election
next_year2014
seats_for_electionall 87 seats in Legislative Assembly
majority_seats44
registered
turnout61.16% (17.46%)
<!-- JKNC -->image1
leader1Farooq Abdullah
party1Jammu & Kashmir National Conference
last_election128
seats128
seat_change1
percentage123.07%
swing15.17%
<!-- JKPDP -->titleChief Minister
before_electionGhulam Nabi Azad
before_partyIndian National Congress
after_electionOmar Abdullah
after_partyJammu & Kashmir National Conference
image2
leader2Mehbooba Mufti
party2Jammu and Kashmir People's Democratic Party
last_election216
seats221
seat_change25
percentage215.39%
swing26.11%
<!-- Congress -->image3
party3Indian National Congress
last_election320
seats317
seat_change33
percentage317.71%
swing36.53%
<!-- BJP -->image4
party4Bharatiya Janata Party
last_election41
seats411
seat_change410
percentage412.45%
swing43.88%
<!-- JKNPP -->image5
leader5Bhim Singh
party5Jammu and Kashmir National Panthers Party
last_election54
seats53
seat_change51
percentage53.33%
swing50.5%
leaders_seat1Hazratbal Assembly constituency
Sonawar Assembly constituency

Sonawar Assembly constituency}}

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

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.

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".

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

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.

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.

Police also arrested three men they accused of being Jaish-e-Mohammed members planning suicide attacks in Jammu. One of those arrested was a soldier in the Army of Pakistan, who Pakistan said had deserted in 2006.

Results

The seven stages of the elections were held as follows:

Voting stages
DateSeatsTurnout
Monday 17 November10
Sunday 23 November6
Sunday 30 November5
Sunday 7 December18
Saturday 13 December11
Wednesday 17 December16
Wednesday 24 December21
Total87
Source:

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

Separatist supporters were said to have backed the PDP.

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

Summary

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Elected members

Results by constituency

Assembly ConstituencyTurnoutWinnerRunner UpMargin#kNames%CandidatePartyVotes%CandidatePartyVotes%
1Karnah79.65%Kafil-ur-Rehman4,11019.15%Abdul Rehman Bhadana2,96213.8%Jammu & Kashmir National Conference}}"1,148
2Kupwara62.43%Saifullah Mir16,69630.07%Fayaz Ahmad Mir11,51420.74%Jammu & Kashmir National Conference}}"5,182
3Lolab68.15%Abdul Haq Khan23,33740.67%Qaysar Jamshaid Lone17,99031.35%Jammu and Kashmir People's Democratic Party}}"5,347
4Handwara75.58%Chowdary Mohammed Ramzan27,90748.38%Ghulam Mohi-Ud-Din Sofi16,31728.29%Jammu & Kashmir National Conference}}"11,590
5Langate61.33%Sheikh Abdul Rashid7,96421.86%Mohammed Sultan Pandithpori7,75421.29%Independent politician}}"210
6Uri81.73%Taj Mohiuddin24,03644.54%Mohammad Shafi22,15741.06%Indian National Congress}}"1,879
7Rafiabad51.86%Javid Ahmad Dar13,19835.89%Mohammad Dilawar Mir12,98235.3%Jammu & Kashmir National Conference}}"216
8Sopore19.96%Mohammed Ashraf Ganie4,36824.24%Abdul Rashid Dar3,30418.34%Jammu & Kashmir National Conference}}"1,064
9Gurez74.02%Nazir Ahmad Khan5,81751.06%Faqeer Ahmad Khan5,08544.64%Jammu & Kashmir National Conference}}"732
10Bandipora57.08%Nizam Uddin Bhat13,05126.1%Usman Abdul Majid12,23124.46%Jammu and Kashmir People's Democratic Party}}"820
11Sonawari59.95%Mohammad Akbar Lone20,10839.74%Abid Hussain Ansari7,95115.71%Jammu & Kashmir National Conference}}"12,157
12Sangrama46.61%Syed Basharat Ahmad7,81228.09%Shoaib Nabi Lone6,48223.31%Jammu and Kashmir People's Democratic Party}}"1,330
13Baramulla33.31%Muzaffar Hussain Baig13,01953.46%Nazir Hussain Khan7,62131.29%Jammu and Kashmir People's Democratic Party}}"5,398
14Gulmarg59.8%Ghulam Hassan Mir18,25336.81%Sheikh Mustafa Kamal11,81223.82%Jammu & Kashmir Democratic Party Nationalist}}"6,441
15Pattan50.84%Iftikhar Hussain Ansari20,70351.14%Abdul Rashid Shaheen9,43223.3%Jammu and Kashmir People's Democratic Party}}"11,271
16Kangan59.53%Mian Altaf Ahmed Larvi19,21054.98%Mian Bashir Ahmed11,49532.9%Jammu & Kashmir National Conference}}"7,715
17Ganderbal51.73%Omar Abdullah16,51941.49%Qazi Mohammad Afzal8,30420.85%Jammu & Kashmir National Conference}}"8,215
18Hazratbal28.91%Farooq Abdullah11,04144.66%Asiea6,76927.38%Jammu & Kashmir National Conference}}"4,272
19Zadibal17.3%Peer Aafaq Ahmed4,33534.89%Shahi Jahan Dar3,09424.9%Jammu & Kashmir National Conference}}"1,241
20Eidgah22.07%Mubarak Ahmed Gul4,45735.97%Asifa Tariq Qara2,77822.42%Jammu & Kashmir National Conference}}"1,679
21Khanyar17.41%Ali Mohammad Sagar6,31474.16%Showkat Ahmad Hafiz8069.47%Jammu & Kashmir National Conference}}"5,508
22Habba Kadal11.62%Shamim Firdous2,37441.14%Hira Lal Chatta67211.65%Jammu & Kashmir National Conference}}"1,702
23Amira Kadal14.96%Nasir Aslam Wani3,91234.75%Parvaiz Ahmed Bhat3,10327.56%Jammu & Kashmir National Conference}}"809
24Sonawar36.66%Farooq Abdullah7,01828.23%Sheikh Ghulam Qadir Pardesi6,92427.86%Jammu & Kashmir National Conference}}"94
25Batmaloo19.96%Mohammed Irfan Shah9,44744.83%Tariq Hameed Karra6,73831.97%Jammu & Kashmir National Conference}}"2,709
26Chadoora53.79%Javaid Mustafa Mir16,27841.36%Ali Mohammad Dar13,33833.89%Jammu and Kashmir People's Democratic Party}}"2,940
27Budgam55.17%Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi19,65240.15%Mohammed Kamal Malik9,69219.8%Jammu & Kashmir National Conference}}"9,960
28Beerwah57.18%Shafi Ahmad Wani11,72024.42%Abdul Majid Matoo11,55624.08%Jammu and Kashmir People's Democratic Party}}"164
29Khan Sahib74.73%Hakeem Mohammad Yaseen Shah22,61641.94%Saif Ud Din Bhat14,22126.37%People's Democratic Front (Jammu and Kashmir)}}"8,395
30Charari Sharief74.58%Abdul Rahim Rather24,57948.3%Ghulam Nabi Lone18,20435.78%Jammu & Kashmir National Conference}}"6,375
31Tral48.69%Mushtaq Ahmad Shah10,39328.47%Mohammed Ashraf Bhat6,58618.04%Jammu and Kashmir People's Democratic Party}}"3,807
32Pampore43.43%Zahoor Ahmad Mir11,11736.84%Mohammed Anwar Bhat5,96919.78%Jammu and Kashmir People's Democratic Party}}"5,148
33Pulwama40.84%Mohammad Khalil Bandh10,63936.45%Sonaullah Dar4,00313.71%Jammu and Kashmir People's Democratic Party}}"6,636
34Rajpora50.61%Syed Bashir Ahmad Shah10,17725.12%Ghulam Mohi Uddin Mir9,23022.79%Jammu and Kashmir People's Democratic Party}}"947
35Wachi48.55%Mehbooba Mufti12,81037.96%Showkat Hussain Ganie4,47413.26%Jammu and Kashmir People's Democratic Party}}"8,336
36Shopian52.72%Abdul Razaq Wagay8,00621.23%Mohammed Shafi5,20813.81%Jammu and Kashmir People's Democratic Party}}"2,798
37Noorabad74.1%Sakeena Akhtar16,24035.23%Abdul Aziz Zargar11,72225.43%Jammu & Kashmir National Conference}}"4,518
38Kulgam61.61%Mohamad Yousuf Tarigami17,17534.24%Nazir Ahmad Laway16,93933.77%Communist Party of India (Marxist)}}"236
39Hom Shali Bugh54.36%Abdul Gafar Sofi12,24933.74%Abdul Majeed7,43920.49%Jammu and Kashmir People's Democratic Party}}"4,810
40Anantnag41.22%Mufti Mohammad Sayeed12,43939.49%Mirza Mehboob Beigh7,54823.96%Jammu and Kashmir People's Democratic Party}}"4,891
41Devsar68.36%Mohammed Sartaj Madni14,17526.79%Peerzada Ghulam Ahmad10,17419.23%Jammu and Kashmir People's Democratic Party}}"4,001
42Dooru69.83%Ghulam Ahmad Mir15,87036.19%Syed Farooq Ahmad Andrabi9,95222.69%Indian National Congress}}"5,918
43Kokernag70.35%Peerzada Mohammad Syed13,38426.75%Ghulam Nabi Bhat12,11424.21%Indian National Congress}}"1,270
44Shangus–Anantnag East69.29%Peerzada Mansoor Hussain13,85327.99%Gulzar Ahmad Wani12,42325.1%Jammu and Kashmir People's Democratic Party}}"1,430
45Srigufwara–Bijbehara60.75%Abdul Rehman Bhat23,32049.88%Bashir Ahmad Shah Veeri13,04627.9%Jammu and Kashmir People's Democratic Party}}"10,274
46Pahalgam70.25%Rafi Ahmad Mir24,31649.29%Altaf Ahmad Wani13,39427.15%Jammu and Kashmir People's Democratic Party}}"10,922
47Nubra71.26%Tsetan Namgyal4,60853.48%Tsewang Rigzin3,67842.68%Independent politician}}"930
48Leh61.05%Nawang Rigzin19,00850.5%Thupstan Chhewang17,48546.45%Indian National Congress}}"1,523
49Kargil75.05%Qamar Ali Akhoon22,93553.64%Haji Nissar Ali17,63541.24%Jammu & Kashmir National Conference}}"5,300
50Zanskar72.2%Feroz Ahmed Khan6,55244.72%Ghulam Raza5,63438.45%Jammu & Kashmir National Conference}}"918
51Kishtwar74.46%Sajjad Ahmad Kichloo19,24837.48%Sunil Kumar Sharma16,78332.68%Jammu & Kashmir National Conference}}"2,465
52Inderwal72.81%Ghulam Mohammad Saroori22,68442.67%Shakti Raj12,26923.08%Indian National Congress}}"10,415
53Doda73.05%Abdul Majid Wani23,25444.55%Khalid Najib Suharwardy16,10230.85%Indian National Congress}}"7,152
54Bhaderwah65.29%Ghulam Nabi Azad38,23862.86%Daya Krishan8,80214.47%Indian National Congress}}"29,436
55Ramban65.59%Ashok Kumar21,77943.47%Bali Bhagat11,46022.88%Indian National Congress}}"10,319
56Banihal67.94%Vikar Rasool Wani8,28717.38%Showket Javeed Daing5,25411.02%Indian National Congress}}"3,033
57Gulabgarh77.66%Abdul Ghani Malik14,26831.28%Haji Mumtaz Ahmad Khan11,02024.16%Jammu & Kashmir National Conference}}"3,248
58Reasi73.61%Baldev Raj26,03137.01%Jugal Kishore19,36927.54%Bharatiya Janata Party}}"6,662
59Gool Arnas76.7%Ajaz Ahmed Khan15,59437.05%Ghulam Qadir Mughal12,14228.85%Indian National Congress}}"3,452
60Udhampur68.64%Balwant Singh Mankotia25,25935.49%Pawan Kumar Gupta22,49431.61%Jammu and Kashmir National Panthers Party}}"2,765
61Chenani57.37%Krishan Chander16,27635.47%Dina Nath Bhagat9,83821.44%Indian National Congress}}"6,438
62Ramnagar64.54%Harsh Dev Singh30,60947.18%Vinod Khajuria18,46328.46%Jammu and Kashmir National Panthers Party}}"12,146
63Bani76.09%Lal Chand11,04139.57%Ghulam Haider Malik8,79231.51%Bharatiya Janata Party}}"2,249
64Basohli69.8%Jagdish Raj Sapolia16,65135.25%Davinder Singh13,77029.15%Bharatiya Janata Party}}"2,881
65Kathua72.98%Charanjit Singh19,12325.82%Som Raj Majotra16,76122.63%Independent politician}}"2,362
66Billawar70.9%Manohar Lal Sharma22,26235.78%Satish Kumar Sharma13,87922.31%Indian National Congress}}"8,383
67Hiranagar66.03%Durga Dass19,73030.5%Prem Lal16,99326.27%Bharatiya Janata Party}}"2,737
68Samba72.52%Yash Paul Kundal14,63127.15%Satwant Kour12,64223.45%Jammu and Kashmir National Panthers Party}}"1,989
69Vijaypur80.27%Surjeet Singh Slathia21,09027.21%Chader Prakash Sharma19,87825.64%Jammu & Kashmir National Conference}}"1,212
70Nagrota79.33%Jugal Kishore Sharma11,14122.76%M. K. Ajat Shatru9,52119.45%Bharatiya Janata Party}}"1,620
71Gandhinagar64.15%Raman Bhalla33,48636.34%Nirmal Singh31,22333.89%Indian National Congress}}"2,263
72Jammu East60.71%Ashok Kumar Khajuria15,90750.72%Narender Singh5,47417.45%Bharatiya Janata Party}}"10,433
73Jammu West60.85%Chaman Lal Gupta34,28840.26%Surinder Singh Shangari21,25124.95%Bharatiya Janata Party}}"13,037
74Bishnah75.77%Ashwani Kumar Sharma14,07822.46%Kamal Verma13,58921.68%Independent politician}}"489
75Ranbir Singh Pora–Jammu South76.56%Gharu Ram Bhagat15,90228.95%Suman Lata Bhagat14,27225.98%Bharatiya Janata Party}}"1,630
76Suchetgarh79.8%Sham Lal Choudhary17,99539.39%Taranjeet Singh10,40322.77%Bharatiya Janata Party}}"7,592
77Marh81.97%Sukh Nandan Kumar18,36835.04%Ajay Sadhotra11,78722.49%Bharatiya Janata Party}}"6,581
78Raipur Domana70.55%Bharat Bhushan28,68547.78%Mulla Ram16,41627.34%Bharatiya Janata Party}}"12,269
79Akhnoor79.68%Sham Lal Sharma31,60047.97%Govind Ram Sharma17,71626.89%Indian National Congress}}"13,884
80Chhamb78.35%Tara Chand25,33548.59%Chaman Lal22,94044.%Indian National Congress}}"2,395
81Nowshera73.07%Radhay Sham Sharma16,51126.47%Romesh Chander Sharma12,69120.35%Jammu & Kashmir National Conference}}"3,820
82Darhal77.37%Chowdhary Zulfkar Ali19,39928.55%Mohammed Iqbal Malik14,85821.87%Jammu and Kashmir People's Democratic Party}}"4,541
83Rajouri70.12%Shabir Ahmed Khan10,01313.63%Tasadiq Hussain9,68013.18%Indian National Congress}}"333
84Kalakote73.32%Rachhpal Singh25,31445.62%Ashok Kumar Sharma13,89425.04%Jammu & Kashmir National Conference}}"11,420
85Surankote74.92%Aslam Chowdhary Mohammad28,10244.22%Mushtaq Ahmed Shah Bukhari26,05140.99%Indian National Congress}}"2,051
86Mendhar77.85%Sardar Rafiq Hussain Khan29,03647.63%Javed Ahmed Rana28,29446.42%Jammu and Kashmir People's Democratic Party}}"742
87Poonch Haveli74.37%Ajaz Ahmed Jan28,29739.62%Chaudhary Bashir Ahmed Naaz18,36425.71%Jammu & Kashmir National Conference}}"9,933

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.

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.

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

References

References

  1. link. (2008-08-10 NDTV, 16 August 2008)
  2. [http://www.pakistantimes.net/2008/05/11/kashmir2.htm APHC to boycott Kashmir elections later this year]{{Dead link. (April 2019)
  3. [http://www.indianexpress.com/news/despite-boycott-call-jamaat-cadres-come-out-in-support-of-pdp/401699/ Despite boycott call, Jamaat cadres come out in support of PDP] Indian Express, 23 December 2008
  4. [http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2008/12/24/asia/AS-Kashmir-Elections.php Voting ends in Indian Kashmir amid heavy security] International Herald Tribune, 24 December 2008
  5. [https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/7798556.stm Clashes mark final Kashmir poll] BBC News, 24 December 2008
  6. However following the polls the NC leader, [[Farooq Abdullah]], thanked the Pakistan government for their "''non-interference''" with the polls.[https://web.archive.org/web/20120102083827/http://www.hindu.com/2008/12/30/stories/2008123060291000.htm Pakistan conundrum hangs over Kashmir poll success] The Hindu, 30 December 2008
  7. (19 October 2008). "7-phase poll in J&K from November 17". Rediff.
  8. [http://www.rediff.com/news/2008/dec/24jkpoll-low-poll-turnour-in-final-phase.htm Low voter turnout in final phase], ''Rediff India'', 2008-12-24
  9. [https://web.archive.org/web/20121022201324/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2008-12-29/india/27945234_1_vote-share-pdp-national-conference Abdullahs back in J&K] Times of India, 29 December 2009
  10. 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.[http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/BJP-fields-more-Muslim-candidates-in-JK-to-shrug-off-communal-tag/articleshow/45178103.cms? BJP fields more Muslim candidates in J&K to shrug off communal tag]
  11. [http://www.rediff.com/news/2008/dec/29jkpoll-35-political-parties-failed-to-win-a-single-seat.htm 35 political parties failed to win a seat in J&K polls] Rediff India, 29 December 2008
  12. "Statistical Report on General Election, 2008 to the Legislative Assembly of Jammu and Kashmir". [[Election Commission of India]].
  13. [https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/7803042.stm Kashmiri parties in coalition bid] BBC News, 29 December 2008
  14. [https://wayback.archive-it.org/all/20171012061347/https://www.telegraphindia.com/1081230/jsp/nation/story_10319531.jsp Cong dilemma: young Omar or PDP] Calcutta Telegraph, 29 December 2008
  15. [http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2008/12/30/asia/AS-Kashmir-Election.php Pro-India parties to take power in Indian Kashmir] International Herald Tribune, 30 December 2008
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