The BJP is poised for a remarkable third consecutive term in Haryana, overturning early Congress leads and defying exit poll predictions, while the Congress-National Conference (NC) alliance is on track for a decisive win in Jammu and Kashmir.
Haryana saw fierce competition for its 90 Assembly seats, with 46 being the magic number. Congress, after a strong start, now holds 10 seats and leads in 26, while the BJP has secured six seats and leads in 42, positioning it for an unprecedented third term since the state's creation in 1966. The Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) is leading in two seats, while the Jannayak Janta Party (JJP) has yet to make its mark.
In Jammu and Kashmir’s first elections in a decade, the Congress-NC alliance has crossed the halfway mark with 35 wins and leads in 12 seats. The BJP, dominant in Jammu, secured 20 seats and leads in nine, while the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) holds two seats and leads in two more. Notably, AAP’s Mehraj Malik secured a victory in Doda.
In Haryana, exit polls had predicted a Congress victory, but the BJP’s consolidation of non-Jat votes and the strategic leadership of Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini reversed the tide. Saini’s last-minute appointment revitalized the BJP’s campaign, overcoming anti-incumbency.
In Jammu and Kashmir, the NC’s resurgence has Farooq Abdullah positioning his son, Omar Abdullah, as the next Chief Minister. The BJP’s focus on transforming the region has yielded little traction in the Kashmir Valley.
Congress's Vinesh Phogat made her electoral debut with a win in Julana, while the AAP struggled, failing to secure seats in Haryana. Celebrations erupted in Srinagar, with the Congress and NC preparing to form the government in Jammu and Kashmir.