Sun Oct 06 05:36:53 UTC 2024: ## Haryana and Jammu & Kashmir Assembly Elections: Exit Polls Predict Tight Races, Congress Gains Ground

**Haryana:** The single-phase assembly elections in Haryana concluded peacefully on Saturday, with a voter turnout of 65.65%. Exit polls predict a clear majority for the Congress party, with some surveys predicting more than 50 seats. The ruling BJP and Congress both expressed confidence in their chances of victory. The majority mark to form a government in Haryana is 46.

**Jammu & Kashmir:** In the Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir, exit polls predict an edge for the Congress-National Conference (NC) alliance, gaining seats close to the majority mark of 46. The first assembly elections in J&K after the abrogation of Article 370 are expected to produce mixed results. The BJP is predicted to emerge as the largest party in the Jammu region, while the Congress-NC alliance is expected to outperform them in the Kashmir Valley. NC is predicted to emerge as the single largest party overall from the three-phase elections.

**Reactions:** Despite the exit poll predictions, key figures from both states expressed skepticism and emphasized the importance of waiting for the final results. Omar Abdullah, Vice President of the National Conference, dismissed the exit polls, stating that the only numbers that matter will be revealed on October 8th. Congress candidate Iftikhar Ahmed from Rajouri said his alliance will get better results than the exit polls suggest. Meanwhile, BJP candidate Anil Vij from Ambala Cantt attributed the positive exit poll predictions for the Congress to their past performance and claimed the ground reality is different.

**Key Issues:** Former Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda attributed the potential Congress victory to their impressive track record between 2005 and 2014, coupled with the perceived failures of the BJP-led government from 2014 to 2024. Awami Ittehad Party chief Sheikh Abdul Rashid emphasized that addressing the pressing issues affecting J&K residents is his priority, rather than government formation. PDP leader Zuhaib Mir highlighted his party’s commitment to saving the identity of Kashmir and their readiness to support any non-BJP government in J&K.

The final results for both Haryana and Jammu & Kashmir will be announced on October 8th, providing definitive answers to the political landscape of these two key regions.

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