Assembly Election Results 2024: Key takeaways from Congress-BJP's first face-off after Lok Sabha polls

Several exit polls predicted a Congress victory in Haryana which recorded a voter turnout of 67.90 per cent.

The counting day for Haryana and Jammu and Kashmir Assembly Elections is upon us. While Congress was ahead in Haryana in early trends, the balance tilted towards the BJP as counting progressed. The NC-Cong alliance in J&K have their 'hand' firmly on the winner's title for now. The first ever polls in Jammu and Kashmir after it was made a Union Territory witnessed a voter turnout of 63.45 per cent, less than the 65.52 per cent recorded in the 2014 assembly elections. Several exit polls have predicted a Congress victory in Haryana which recorded a voter turnout of 67.90 per cent.

BJP turns things around in Haryana

Despite early trends favouring the Congress, the BJP soon turned things around in Haryana, and are now leading in 49 seats compared to Congress' 34.

Several exit polls had predicted a Congress victory in Haryana, which recorded a voter turnout of 67.90 per cent.

Rejecting the exit poll results, Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini had claimed his party will be form the government for a third time with full majority.

He said when results are announced on October 8, the Congress will blame Electronic Voting Machines.

NC-Congress to form govt in Jammu and Kashmir

Going by early trends, the National Conference-Congress alliance appears to be heading to form the government in Jammu and Kashmir, while Independents and smaller parties are failing to make a mark.

BJP dominates Jammu; I.N.D.I.A. bloc leads in Kashmir

I.N.D.I.A. bloc, led by the Jammu and Kashmir National Conference (JKNC), has performed better in the Kashmir region. In contrast, the BJP has performed significantly better in the Jammu region and in districts with a predominantly Hindu population.

How are key candidates performing in Jammu and Kashmir?

National Conference leader Omar Abdullah is leading on both Budgam and Ganderbal seats, while Iltija Mufti of the PDP is trailing from Srigufwara-Biejbehara seat, according to initial trends.

People's Conference president Sajad Lone, who is also contesting from two seats, is leading in Handwara seat by a slender margin of 390 votes, while trailing in Kupwara segment, according to Election Commission trends for Jammu and Kashmir.

Iltija Mufti, the daughter of PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti, is trailing by more than 1,842 votes against NC's Bashir Ahmad Veeri.

How are key candidates performing in Haryana?

Haryana Chief Minister and BJP candidate Nayab Singh Saini is leading from the Ladwa assembly seat against his nearest rival and Congress nominee Mewa Singh, according to the Election Commission.

Haryana Congress chief Udai Bhan is leading from the Hodal assembly seat in the state, according to Election Commission trends.

Congress candidate and wrestler Vinesh Phogat is leading from the Julana assembly seat in Haryana's Jind district, according to early trends. Phogat is leading by a margin of 214 votes against her nearest rival and BJP candidate Yogesh Kumar.

Vinesh Phogat wins debut elections

Congress candidate and former wrestler Vinesh Phogat has won the Julana assembly seat in Haryana. She defeated BJP's Captain Yogesh Bairagi, a former Army officer, and former professional wrestler Kavita Dalal from the Aam Aadmi Party with a margin of more than 6,000 seats.

AAP likely to to win first ever seat in J&K

AAP candidate Mehraj Malik is leading in Doda by 4,770 votes with the last round of counting on. This will be AAP's first ever seat in J&K

Congress miffed at Election Commission

The Congress on Tuesday raised with the Election Commission the issue of an "unexplained slowdown" in updating of results of Haryana elections on the poll watchdog's website and urged it to direct officials to update accurate figures so that "false news and malicious narratives" can be countered immediately.

In a letter to the Chief Election Commissioner and Election Commissioners, Congress general secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh said that between 9 and 11 am there has been an "unexplained slowdown" in the updating of results on the ECI's website.

"As you can imagine this allows bad faith actors to spin narratives that undermine the process. You can see examples of it already playing out on social media," Ramesh said in his letter.

Exit polls upended once again

After the Lok Sabha polls, the exit polls have once again proved to be unable to predict voter sentiments. Most exit polls had predicted a comfortable victory for the Congress in Haryana and a hung assembly in J&K.

However, as things stand, the BJP is leading comfortably in Haryana, and the NC-Cong alliance is way ahead of the halfway mark in J&K.

Congress MP Shashi Tharoor took a jibe at the exit poll industry on Tuesday, saying in an interview with PTI, "certainly the entire exit poll industry must be in deep disgrace, but that's not something we can say much about right now. But let's wait for the final results."

With PTI inputs

Haryana Assembly poll 2024 results| Check constituency results here
J&K Assembly poll 2024 results| Check constituency results here
Assembly Elections 2024 | In the first assembly polls since the Lok Sabha elections, Narendra Modi and the BJP face a rejuvenated and vindicated Opposition in the Haryana assembly polls. Meanwhile, Jammu and Kashmir is voting after almost a decade and it remains to be seen how the abrogation of Article 370 has impacted the political landscape of the Valley. Check live updates and track the latest coverage, live news, in-depth opinions, and analyses only on Deccan Herald.
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