Three independent candidates have secured victories in the Jammu and Kashmir assembly elections, with four others currently leading in their constituencies.

In Inderwal, Payare Lal Sharma, an independent candidate, defeated veteran leader Gulam Mohammad Saroori by a margin of 643 votes. Sharma garnered 14,195 votes, while Saroori, also contesting as an independent, received 13,552 votes.

In Bani, independent candidate Dr. Rameshwar Singh won against BJP’s former MLA Jewan Lal by 2,048 votes. Singh secured 18,672 votes, while Lal polled 16,624 votes.

In the Surankote constituency, National Conference rebel and independent candidate Choudhary Mohammad Akram defeated Congress candidate Mohammad Shahnawaz with a margin of 8,851 votes. Akram received 34,201 votes.

Additionally, four independent candidates are leading in their respective constituencies: Satesh Sharma in Chhamb, Muzaffar Iqbal Khan in Thanamandi, Khursheed Ahmed Sheikh in Langate, and Shabir Ahmed in Shopian.

The counting of votes is ongoing across Jammu and Kashmir.

(HS)