SRINAGAR, 3 February 2005 — Defying expectations that it would fare poorly in elections to the municipal corporation in this summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir, the opposition National Conference has won a majority in the polls.
Of the 61 results available so far in Tuesday’s polls to the 68-member civic body, the National Conference has won 37 seats, the ruling People’s Democratic Party 17, the Congress five and independents two.
The results for seven seats are still to be announced. Observers noted it was a political comeback of sorts for the National Conference led by former central minister Omar Abdullah, especially after its disappointing performance in the 2002 assembly polls and last year’s general election.
The National Conference leadership, including Omar, had launched a bitter campaign against the ruling coalition, accusing the government of trying to rig the polls to wrest control of the Srinagar Municipal Corporation.
But Chief Minister Mufti Mohammed Sayeed used the results to defend his government.
“They must at least now learn to watch their words. If this is rigging, then how has the advantage gone to the National Conference?” he said, commenting on the results.
“I had all along said the most important thing was holding the civic polls specially after a gap of 27 long years. These polls were held peacefully with people’s participation.
“Their fairness must be judged in the backdrop of the results and the allegations of our political rivals,” Sayeed said.
Surprised at the results as its own estimates had not indicated a clear victory for the party, a National Conference leader said: “This proves our party continues to live in the hearts of those who came out despite the odds and voted for us.” The turnout in Srinagar in Tuesday’s polls, the second phase of elections to civic bodies across Kashmir, was only 17 percent — but even this was much higher than the usual turnout of five to six percent during assembly and parliamentary elections.
