Five months after the fiery Amarnath shrine land agitation, the BJP reaped a rich electoral harvest in Jammu, winning an unprecedented 11 seats. The BJP got 10 seats more than in 2002, its victories coming at the expense of the Congress which lost nine seats, and the National Conference, which lost one.

None of those who spearheaded the Amarnath agitation actually participated in the election. Shilpi Verma, widow of a man who had killed himself during the agitation, lost in Bishnah despite a high-decibel campaign for her by Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi.

The leaders of the agitation, however, claimed victory. Former convener of the Shri Amarnath Yatra Sangarsh Samiti (SAYSS), Leela Karan Sharma, said: “The agitation was right. We fought against the discrimination against Jammu, and the candidates who supported us won.

The Congress candidate from the Gandhi Nagar constituency, who had supported the agitation, also won. We will soon begin a decisive battle for the cause of Jammu now.”

BJP workers celebrated with crackers, sweets and drums on the streets. State unit president Ashok Khajuria said the verdict was “an endorsement of the party’s firm position that Kashmir is an integral part of India”.