Srinagar, Oct 10 (KNO): 76 of the total 90 members of Jammu and Kashmir assembly are this time going to be the crorepatis, while 09 MLAs (elect) are facing criminal charges. 70% of the winning candidates have a graduate or higher degree and only 3 out of 90 MLAs in the assembly are women.
A detailed analysis of the winning candidates, provided by the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) and Jammu & Kashmir Election Watch, a copy of which is in possession of news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) sheds light on the evolving political dynamics in Jammu and Kashmir
Out of the 90 seats in the Jammu & Kashmir Assembly, the Jammu & Kashmir National Conference (JKNC) emerged as the dominant force, securing 42 seats. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) followed with 29 seats, reaffirming its influence in the Jammu region. The Indian National Congress (INC) won 6 seats, while the Jammu & Kashmir Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) captured 3 seats. Smaller parties such as Jammu & Kashmir People Conference, Communist Party of India (Marxist), and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) managed to win one seat each. Seven independent candidates were also victorious.
The ADR details divulge that a notable trend in the 2024 elections is the rise in candidates with criminal backgrounds. Out of the 90 winning candidates analyzed, 9 (10%) have declared criminal cases against themselves, compared to 5 candidates (6%) in the 2014 assembly. Even more concerning, 8 (9%) of the winners face serious criminal charges. In 2014, only 2% of the winning candidates faced such serious charges.
Party-wise Breakdown of Candidates with Criminal Charges:
JKNC: 5 candidates (12%) with criminal cases, 4 with serious charges
BJP: 2 candidates (7%) with criminal cases, both facing serious charges
JKPDP: 1 candidate (33%) with criminal cases, also facing serious charges
AAP: 1 candidate (100%) with criminal cases and serious charges
Furthermore, the financial power of the candidates has also grown significantly. A staggering 84% (76 out of 90) of the winning candidates are crorepatis, showcasing a steep rise in wealth compared to previous elections. In 2014, 75% of the winners were crorepatis. The average assets of winning candidates in 2024 are ₹11.43 crores, more than doubling the ₹4.56 crores average in 2014.
Top Wealthiest MLAs (elect):
Tariq Hameed Karra (INC) – ₹148.44 crores (Srinagar Central Shalteng)
Devender Singh Rana (BJP) – ₹126.81 crores (Jammu Nagrota)
Mushtaq Guroo (JKNC) – ₹94.21 crores (Srinagar Channapora)
The Congress leads in financial terms, with its six candidates averaging ₹30.12 crores in assets. Other notable crorepatis include Devender Singh Rana of the BJP, who has assets worth ₹126.81 crores, and Mushtaq Guroo from JKNC, whose wealth stands at ₹94.21 crores.
Party-wise Crorepati Breakdown:
JKNC: 37 out of 42 candidates (88%) are crorepatis
BJP: 25 out of 29 candidates (86%) are crorepatis
INC: 6 out of 6 candidates (100%) are crorepatis
PDP: 2 out of 3 candidates (67%) are crorepatis
Independent: 4 out of 7 candidates (57%) are crorepatis
The ADR details reveal further that educationally, the assembly is more qualified than in the past. A total of 63 candidates (70%) have declared education levels of graduate or above, with a few holding advanced degrees. However, a significant portion (28%) have qualifications ranging between 8th and 12th pass.
In terms of gender representation, the assembly remains male-dominated. Only 3 women were elected, continuing the same 3% representation seen in the 2014 assembly.
The majority of winning candidates (68%) are between the ages of 51 and 80 years. The youngest winner is Shagun Parihar, a 29-year-old BJP candidate from Kishtwar, while JKNC’s veteran Abdul Rahim Rather, aged 80, is the oldest.
Age Group Breakdown:
25-50 years: 29 candidates (32%)
51-80 years: 61 candidates (68%)—(KNO)