In the first-ever District Development Council elections in Jammu and Kashmir, 38 from the Gujjar community have been elected to the Council which comprises a total of 280 members from 20 Districts, revealed a survey conducted by Tribal Research and Cultural Foundation –a community-supported organization of the Gujjar community.


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Of these, the Jammu province has the biggest chunk of 26 members from the Gujjars-Bakerwal community who won the election, while 15 of them are tribal women from both the regions, the survey reads. They were candidates of different parties but a large number of independents from the Gujjar community won the election, it reads.


"Highest number of educated tribal Youth of Gujjar community has been elected in eight phased polls, the results of which were announced yesterday and we compliment all of them", noted tribal researcher Dr. Javaid Rahi, stated while releasing précis survey on the election.


He said, the implementation of ‘Political Reservation’ in Jammu and Kashmir last year has made it possible that the highest number of people from STs (Gujjars-Bakarwals)  communities are going to be a part of development through these governing bodies at the rural level. He added that in this election they have made massive participation in the democratic process.


As per the survey, among them, 82% are youth and first-timers and 37% of them are tribal women of hilly and difficult areas. In Poonch District 9 Gujjars –(STs) out of a total 14 got elected which is the highest number in all the 20 districts, the survey said.


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Rahi also said that Gujjars in J&K form the third-largest population after Kashmiris and Dogras and they are playing a laudable role in the democratic process since 1947.


The People's Alliance for Gupkar Declaration (PAGD), led by Farooq Abdullah, won 110 seats of the total 280 constituencies in the maiden District Development Council (DDC) elections.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) emerged as the single largest party with 75 DDC constituencies followed by J&K National Conference with 67 seats. The PDP bagged 27 while the Congress won 26 seats.