In a major political shift, 34 former ministers in Jammu and Kashmir were defeated in the recently concluded Assembly elections, many by first-time candidates. This election marks the first since the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019 and will result in J&K having an elected government for the first time in a decade.
The National Conference (NC) emerged as the largest party, winning 42 out of the 90 seats. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) secured 29, while Congress took 6, and the Jammu and Kashmir People’s Democratic Party (JKPDP) managed only 3.
Key lost leaders include Vikar Rasool, former Minister for Tourism and Housing, Muzaffar Beigh, former Deputy Chief Minister, and Altaf Bukhari, former Finance Minister and Apni Party founder. The list of defeated ministers also includes Harsh Dev Singh, Lal Singh, Ghulam Nabi Lone, and Hakeem Mohammad Yaseen.
The elections, held in three phases in September and October, saw participation from 873 candidates across 90 constituencies, with 47 seats in Kashmir and 43 in Jammu. This political shakeup has paved the way for new leadership in the UT.
