Srinagar, October 20: After completing the counting of votes, the State Election Commission declared the results of Jammu & Kashmir Urban Local Body Elections 2018, held in four phases from October 8 to 16. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has scripted history, becoming the first-ever single-largest party in the Muslim-dominated state.

In Jammu, where the Hindu electorate outweigh their Muslim counterparts, the BJP has further consolidated its single-largest party tag. In Kashmir Valley, the Congress is marginally ahead by four seats. In Leh, however, the BJP failed to open its account as all 13 wards were bagged by the Congress. Check Complete List of Winning Candidates in ULB Elections Online.

In the Jammu region that includes the districts of Jammu, Samba, Kathua, Reasi, Doda, Kishtwar, Ramban, Udhampur, Poonch and Rajouri, the BJP candidates won 212 wards, the Congress 110, National Panthers Party 13 and Independents 185.

In the Valley, with Srinagar, Baramulla, Kupwara, Badgam, Anantnag, Pulwama, Shopian, Kulgam, Bandipora and Ganderbal as its districts, the Congress won 79 wards, the BJP 75, independents 71, Peoples Conference two and others two.

Although the BJP has four less seats than the Congress in the Valley, the party has much to rejoice as 13 independents, backed by its ally and former Minister Sajjad Lone, have won all the 13 seats in Kupwara Municipal Committee.

Among the prominent winners in Kupwara is Junaid Azim Mattu who left the regional National Conference (NC) after he disagreed with the poll boycott decision by the NC. Notably, Asifa Tariq Karra, the wife of senior Congress leader Tariq Hameed Karra is among the prominent losers.

J&K Civic Polls: Here are the district-wise results:

Ahead of the elections, the two prominent regional parties - PDP and NC - had announced a poll boycott, citing the Centre's alleged attempt to abrogate Article 35(A), which guarantees special status to Jammu & Kashmir.

The polls witnessed the most polarised turnout since the insurgency days of the 90s' as only 4 per cent electorate in the Kashmir Valley turned out to cast their vote, whereas, 65 per cent voters in Jammu region exercised their right to franchise.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Oct 20, 2018 06:27 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).