Sat Oct 05 20:30:24 UTC 2024: ## Congress-NC Alliance Leads in J&K Exit Polls, but No Clear Winner

**Srinagar, October 2, 2024** – The first assembly elections in Jammu & Kashmir since 2014 concluded on October 1st, with exit polls predicting a close race between the Congress-National Conference alliance and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). While multiple pollsters predict a slight edge for the Congress-NC alliance, securing an estimated 35-45 seats, no single party is projected to secure a majority.

Several pollsters, including Axis My India, India Today C-Voter, and Republic-Gulistan News, have predicted the Congress-NC alliance winning between 35-48 seats, with the BJP trailing behind at 24-32 seats. The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) is predicted to win between 4-12 seats, leaving a significant number of seats open for independent candidates.

While the Congress-NC alliance appears to be leading, Omar Abdullah, Vice President of the National Conference, has cautioned against reading too much into the exit polls, stating that the only numbers that matter are the official results, which will be announced on October 8th.

The exit poll predictions are a far cry from the 2014 assembly elections, where the PDP and BJP formed a coalition government after neither party secured a majority. This year’s elections were marked by high voter turnout, exceeding 61% across the three phases.

The final results of the Jammu & Kashmir elections will be crucial for the future of the region, as the Union Territory grapples with a complex political landscape. The BJP, despite facing stiff competition, remains a significant force, making the outcome a closely watched event.

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