The first major election in Jammu and Kashmir after the 2019 abrogation of Article 370 eroded the reputation of some of the stalwarts of Kashmir politics.

Though the BJP retained its Jammu stronghold and the parties opposed to it won handsomely in Kashmir, the highlight was two former chief ministers Omar Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti and an aspiring CM Sajad Lone suffering humiliating defeats.

Omar and Sajad lost by over two lakh votes each in Baramulla to jailed politician Sheikh Abdul Rashid aka Engineer Rashid. His victory is seen as an insult to Delhi, a damning verdict against its "all-is-well" narrative in Kashmir.

Mehbooba was defeated by NC veteran Mian Altaf Ahmad in Anantnag-Rajouri by nearly three lakh votes. The verdict in Kashmir and Ladakh is seen as a rejection of the abrogation.

Apni Party candidates Mohammad Ashraf Mir and Zaffar Iqbal Manhas in Srinagar and Anantnag also lost.