SRINAGAR: For decades now, Kishtwar has been considered as the barometer for the politics that polarises. In the politically inconsequential DDC polls, the district seemingly strengthened the secular forces as the recent interventions by the administration played against the BJP.
Going by the declared results and the visible trend in one berth, the result of which may take some time, National will be bagging six segments and Congress will have three. Of the two independents who have won, one each has a support from NC and BJP. BJP has three seats already. It means Congress-NC combine would eventually have 10 seats.
Both NC and Congress played smart, local analysts said. “In at least two constituencies where the BJP wanted to polarise the votes, NC and Congress fielded Hindu candidates,” one resident said. “Then they did a bit of effort in the two ST seats which were ripened by the government’s anti-forest dweller initiatives and the BJP lost both.”
The residents said the land laws and the series of interventions by the Jammu and Kashmir administration played against the BJP vote bank. “It was to the extent that despite the Hindu d Muslim votes being almost equal, a huge section of Hindu voters did not come out to participate while as Muslims participated in huge numbers.”
As per the results declared, BJP has Drabshalla, Padder and Trigam. Pooja Thakur won Dacchan for NC, and Hans Raj Drabshalla-b for Congress
