Exit polls LIVE | Cong win likely in Haryana; NC-Cong has edge in J-K
While three-phase polls to the 90-seat Jammu and Kashmir Assembly concluded on Oct 1, single-phase polls to the 90-seat Haryana Assembly were held on Saturday
The keenly-watched Assembly elections in Haryana and Jammu and Kashmir have come to an end and pollsters are about to come out with their predictions.
While the elections to the 90-seat Jammu and Kashmir Assembly were held in three phases and concluded on October 1, the polls to the 90-seat Haryana Assembly were held in a single phase on Saturday (October 5). Polling in Haryana got over at 6 pm.
First J&K Assembly polls in 10 years
The Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir has voted in an Assembly election for the first time since 2014. None of the major parties could bag a full majority in 2014 and there are fears of a hung Assembly this time too.
In 2014, the Mehbooba Mufti-led PDP had garnered 28 seats, while the BJP had come second with 25 seats. The PDP and the BJP had joined hands to form the government, which lasted till June 19, 2018.
After that, Jammu and Kashmir was under Governor’s rule, which was followed by the abrogation of Article 370 and the bifurcation of the state into the Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh.
This time, the Congress and National Conference have formed an alliance, while the Awami Ittehad Party led by Engineer Rashid can be a major deciding factor.
BJP faces strong anti-incumbency sentiments in Haryana
For the 90-seat Haryana Assembly, the battle is mainly between the ruling BJP and the Opposition Congress. The BJP faces a strong anti-incumbency factor this time, while the Congress aims to get back power riding on the waves of farmers’ protests, wrester’s protests, and the Agnipath fiasco.
The 2019 Haryana polls had thrown up a hung Assembly. The BJP had got 40 seats, while the Congress got 31. The BJP had joined hands with the Dushyant Chautala-led JJP which had got 10 seats.
The BJP-JJP coalition collapsed in March, while three Independent candidates also withdrew their support in May, and Manohar Lal Khattar was replaced by Nayab Singh Saini as the chief minister.
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A recent survey by the Centre for Global Studies at Delhi University predicted that the Congress is set to form the government in Haryana, while its alliance with National Conference in Jammu and Kashmir is likely to secure a majority.
The online survey, carried out between September 11 and October 3, involved 8,429 voters across 90 constituencies in each state. Around 700 students and researchers from various universities participated in the survey.
According to the survey results, the Congress is expected to secure 46 seats out of 90 in Haryana, edging out the BJP, which is predicted to win 38 seats.
In Jammu and Kashmir, the Congress-NC alliance is projected to win 45 seats in the 90-member assembly, with the BJP trailing behind with 27 seats, the survey forecast.