SRINAGAR: After the results of the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly elections, four independent MLAs, who had left the National Conference (NC) over ticket distribution issues, are set for a ‘Ghar Wapsi’ following the stellar performance of the NC-Congress alliance.
In the elections, seven independent candidates emerged victorious in their respective constituencies.
Former judge Muzaffar Iqbal Khan defeated BJP’s Mohd Iqbal Malik in the Thannamandi Assembly Constituency of Rajouri by a margin of 6,179 votes.
The INDIA alliance candidate, Mohd Shabir Khan, who contested on a Congress ticket, finished in fourth place with 7,508 votes. Independent candidate Payare Lal Sharma defeated another independent candidate, Ghulam Mohammad Saroori, by a narrow margin of 643 votes in the Inderwal Assembly, with the INDIA alliance candidate from Congress, Mohd Zafarullah, finishing third.
Sharma decided to contest as an independent after the NC-Congress alliance left the seat to Congress. After the results were declared, Sharma stated that he has always been associated with NC and will remain with the party in the future. He left for Srinagar from Kishtwar to meet the top NC leadership on Wednesday.
Choudhary Mohammed Akram won from Surankote, defeating alliance candidate Mohammad Shahnawaz Chowdhary by a margin of 8,851 votes. Akram received 34,201 votes.
Senior political leader Mohd Aslam Kohli, who campaigned for Akram, confirmed that the NC leadership is in touch with them and that Akram has decided to rejoin the party. Akram could not be reached for comment.
Akram had left NC after the alliance was formed, and Congress leader Shahnawaz Chowdhary was declared the alliance candidate for the Surankote constituency. Dr Rameshwar Singh won from Bani, defeating BJP candidate and former MLA Jewan Lal by 2,048 votes. Singh secured 18,672 votes, while Lal received 16,624 votes.
A senior NC leader said that the four independent MLAs who were part of the National Conference before the elections are in touch with the party leadership and will rejoin soon. The NC may be able to stake a claim to form the government on its own once the MLAs return to its fold.
The NC emerged as the single largest party in Jammu and Kashmir, winning 42 seats in the 90-member assembly, while the BJP retained its stronghold, Jammu, with 29 seats, and Congress secured six.—(KNO)
