Jammu and Kashmir elections: PDP confident of forming government

Srinagar: As Jammu and Kashmir awaits Assembly election results, the Peoples Democratic Party is confident of victory and says it will not need outside support to form the government. PDP spokesperson Naeem Akthar says his party is all set to assume power in the state.

"We will form the government on our own and there is lot of expectations and lot of confidence. The democratic alternative to National Conference and Congress has arrived," said Akhtar. However, he also added that PDP will need the support of all to run the government.

On the other hand Chief Minister and National Conference supremo Omar Abdullah, who is facing the toughest electoral battle of his life, clarified that he was not looking for any post poll alliance with the BJP after speculations that he was moving closer to the saffron party following his open support to award the Bharat Ratna to former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee.

Jammu and Kashmir Assembly has 87 members and a total of 821 candidates contested the elections which were held in five phases in the militancy-hit state. The highlight was a record voter turnout of 65 per cent, which is the highest in the state since the 1987 elections and four per cent more than 2008.

The ruling National Conference is facing a stiff challenge particularly from the PDP, BJP) and Congress with some regional political entities and a few independents also having their spheres of influence. The National Conference and Congress had formed a coalition government after the 2008 elections after winning 28 and 17 seats respectively but the two parted ways a few weeks a before Assembly elections making it a four cornered race in the state.

A total of 821 candidates including 276 independents are awaiting their fate which will be known once Electronic Voting Machines are opened at 28 counting centres set up at the district headquarters. As is the practice postal ballots will be counted first followed by EVMs.

In 2008 elections, NC had won 28 seats, Congress 17 and PDP 21. BJP had bagged 11 seats, Panthers' Party 3 and CPIM had one while Independents emerged victorious in six.