J-K municipal polls: BJP leads in preliminary results

Srinagar (Jammu and Kashmir) [India], Oct 20 (ANI): With counting of the votes in Jammu and Kashmir's municipal elections currently underway, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has established a lead over the Congress, as per the preliminary results of six districts.
The Congress and the BJP are the two national political parties battling for municipal authority in the state as the two major state parties, the National Conference (NC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), have boycotted the elections over lack of clarity in the Centre's stance on Article 35A. The districts that went to polls were Baramulla, Pulwama, Kulgam, Shopian, Budgam and Anantnag.
BJP candidates have been elected in 75 wards across the six districts, compared to the 52 wards that Congress candidates have prevailed in. A total of 45 wards have been won by independent candidates so far, with an incredible 170 wards going uncontested.
Congress candidates failed to win a single ward in Baramulla district, where the BJP is leading with candidates emerging victorious in 17 wards. As many as 16 municipal wards were won by independent contestants while as many as 21 were vacant.
Similarly the Congress failed to register victory in a single municipal ward in Pulwama district. Out of the total 56 wards in the district, a total of 48 were vacant, while BJP and independent candidates won six and two wards respectively.
The BJP maintained their considerable lead over the Congress in Kulgam district, winning 10 wards compared to the latter's three. BJP candidates registered a clean sweep in the Devasar Municipal Committee, winning all eight wards, while the Congress won all their wards from the Yaripora Municipal Committee.
While independent candidates won a total of three wards, as many as 24 wards in the district went uncontested, including all 13 wards in the Municipal Committee Frisal.
The BJP was also dominant in Shopian district, winning 12 out of the total 17 wards, with the rest going uncontested.
The Congress made up some of the lost ground in the Budgam district, winning a total of 23 wards compared to the BJP's five. Independent candidates bagged 16 wards while a total of 28 wards went vacant.
In Anantnag district, Congress candidates emerged victorious in 26 wards, marginally edging the BJP by one ward. While eight wards were won by independent candidates, 44 went uncontested. (ANI)