Srinagar: The People’s Alliance for Gupkar Declaration (PAGD), an amalgam of unionists in Kashmir, has taken a huge lead in the District Development Council (DDC) as the Bharatiya Janata Party struggles to secure its bastions in Jammu division.
Out of 280 seats across J-K — after 14 constituencies were fleshed out of every district — the Alliance is currently ahead on 108 seats while the BJP leads on 60 seats. It is the first democratic exercise after New Delhi has revoked the limited autonomy of the region in August 2019 and clamped down. The August decision also disempowered the elected assembly — and later, the DDC was introduced that the government claims implements the three-tier system of governance in J-K.
As per the latest numbers available with The Kashmir Walla, the Alliance has registered win in at least forty-seven seats while independent candidates won twenty-one seats, and lead on thirty-four others.
The BJP also won eighteen seats so far, including three in Kashmir Valley. The counting was underway when this report was published.
