Sajjad Lone won by 28489 votes from Handwara. He is also contesting in Kupwara. His Jammu and Kashmir People's Conference party, which is contesting 12 seats in Kupwara and Handwara, is being seen as a potential ally of the BJP.

Lone had met PM Narendra Modi in November fuelling speculation that the BJP leadership could be propping up his People's Conference to prevent Mehbooba Mufti's PDP from scoring an outright win.