Split mandate likely in J&K elections

NC-Congress alliance is likely to secure a majority, however, experts warn that they may struggle to govern on their own due to a potential split mandate, elevating the importance of smaller parties.

- BADAR BASHIR

As there is a strong consideration of National Conference and Congress alliance winning majority seats and forming the government, experts think that the two parties will find it difficult to form the government on its own in the union territory, as the results could throw a split mandate and increase the importance of several smaller parties.

Jammu and Kashmir has 90 Assembly seats and five nominated seats.

Several leaders in Jammu region suggest that BJP will mobilise its election machinery in such a way, that it will leave no stone unturned to win as many seats as it can and also expect small parties to lend it support to form the government. An independent surveyor while marking out the presence of BJP in Jammu and Kashmir said that the saffron camp can win around 25 seats from Jammu (which has 43 seats) and could draw a blank in the Kashmir Valley (which has 47 Assembly seats). However, the other party leaders from Jammu suggest that BJP can win around 30 seats due to multiple parties contesting on several seats leading to the vote split of the secular votes and giving the saffron camp edge over other parties.