Jammu & Kashmir National Conference was the single largest party but lacked majority. The Jammu and Kashmir People's Democratic Party (PDP) and the Indian National Congress (Congress) formed a coalition government with PDP's Mufti Mohammad Sayeed serving as the Chief Minister for the first three years and Congress's Ghulam Nabi Azad for the next three years. The election saw a major boycott at the appeal of Tehreek -e-Hurriyat.Kashmir division had a voting percentage of 3.5% while Jammu division had a voting percentage of 16.5%.Rajouri district recorded the least voting percentage at 2.7%[3][4] The Panthers Party formed part of the ruling coalition with Harsh Dev Singh as the party's first cabinet minister.[5]
Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) were used for first time in Jammu Kashmir assembly elections in 2002.[6] The international community also appreciated the credibility of the elections and the results that followed it. The elections was seen as a victory of the ballot over the bullet.[7][8] United States lauded 2002 elections of the state.[9][10] There were 1.7 million voters in the state for 2002 elections.[11][12]
Voting
Voting stages
The first phase voting took place on 16 September 2002.[13] There was a polling station for just 11 voters in Zanskar.[6] BJP contested on 52 seats while Jammu State Morcha contested on 12 seats.[14][15] National Conference president Omar Abdullah contested from Ganderbal seat.[16] Separatists had varied views on the elections ranging from voting to boycott of elections.[17][18][19]
The four stages of the elections were held as follows:
10.22%)
