2019 Lok Sabha Election Result for Baramullah, J&K: JKNC's Mohammad Akbar Lone wins multi-pronged contest, Congress & BJP left lagging behind

The Jammu and Kashmir constituency saw a four-way battle between candidates of two regional and two national parties- Abdul Qayoom Wani of the PDP, Mohammad Akbar Lone of the National Conference, Mohammad Maqbool War of the BJP and Congress' Haji Farooq Ahmad Mir. In total, nine candidates contested the seat, with the entry of Sajjad Lone's People’s Conference candidate Raja Aijaz Ali, who himself is a Pahari poses a threat to Farooq Abdullah's National Conference.

One of the 6 constituencies in Jammu and Kashmir, Baramulla was won by Muzaffar Hussain Baig of the PDP in 2014 until which time it had generally been considered to be NC territory. However, the break-up of the BJP-PDP alliance in the Valley in 2018 reduced the support base for Mehbooba Mufti's party. Baig didn’t contest in 2019. The constituency comprises big towns like Baramulla, Sopore, Kupwara, Handwara, and Bandipora.

RESULT

Gaining majority seats, Mohammad Akbar Lone of Jammu & Kashmir National Conference (JKNC) finished about 30,000 votes ahead of JKPC's Raja Aijaz and well-known Independent candidate Ali Engineer Rashid, with Abdul Qayoom Wani of the PDP, Mohammad Maqbool War of the BJP and Congress' Haji Farooq Ahmad Mir bringing up the rear.

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Controversy

NC leader Akbar Lone courted controversy by saying that the PDP and BJP leaders eat 'beef and pork' together in December. He stoked another controversy on March 25 by raising 'Pakistan Zindabad' slogans in a public meeting in retaliation to BJP's 'Pakistan Murdabad' slogan, he even went on say that he will abuse those who abuse the neighbour country. This statement came merely a month after the horrific Pulwama terror attack that martyred 40 CRPF Jawans.

READ: 2019 Lok Sabha Election Results From North East Delhi: BJP Delhi Chief Manoj Tiwari Routs Former CM Sheila Dikshit By More Than 3 Lakh Votes

History

In 2014 Parliamentary elections, PDP’s Muzaffar Hussain Baig defeated NC leader Sharief Ud-din Shariq by 29,219 votes.PDP has won the seat only once, while the BJP has been unable to make inroads in the constituency. The Congress held the seat from 1957 to 1971, then the NC took over from 1977 until 1989, then in 1999, 2004 and 2009.