In the Muslim-majority territory in dispute with Pakistan, which returned to the polls after Modi’s coup that eliminated the partial autonomy guaranteed by the Indian Constitution, Omar Abdullah’s National Conference won. But the prime minister’s party, reversing predictions, won for the third consecutive time in the state surrounding Delhi, once again beating Congress.
Delhi () – The BJP – Hindu nationalist party – won the elections in the State of Haryana for the third consecutive time, but was defeated in the very delicate vote in Jammu & Kashmir, which returned to the polls for the first time after the coup d’état of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi who annulled in 2019 the partial autonomy enjoyed by the region historically disputed with Pakistan due to its strong Muslim presence. The first round of the local elections basically ended with a tie after the parliamentary vote in June, which confirmed Prime Minister Modi for a third term, but with a reduction in the seats of the BJP which now, to govern at the federal level, needs the support of some allied parties.
Despite being the leading force in the outgoing administration, the BJP’s victory in Haryana was not taken for granted on the eve of the elections. The exit polls that were published at the close of voting had assigned victory to the Congress Party, the main opposition force. But Nayab Singh Saini will once again lead the government of this northern state of 28 million people that includes the region surrounding the capital, New Delhi. Celebrating his victory, Saini immediately gave the credit to Modi: “We move forward under his leadership. He called me and gave me his blessing. I had faith that the poor, farmers and youth of Haryana would also bless me.”
In Jammu and Kashmir, on the contrary – despite the changes introduced in the distribution of seats to give greater weight than in the past to Jammu, the region where Hindus are the majority -, the opposition led by the National Conference, a local party allied with Congress. Its leader, Omar Abdullah, – who had headed the local government from 2009 to 2015 – will once again be chief minister after this territory was administered directly from Delhi since 2018. “In the last five years – Abdullah commented – they have tried to destroy us. . In the end they lost.” However, it must be added that, after the repeal of Article 370 that granted partial autonomy to Kashmir, the new local government will have limited powers on a number of issues, such as education and taxes.
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