Counting of Votes in Jammu and Kashmir, Jharkhand Today

Jammu and Kashmir witnessed a record turnout of 65 per cent despite boycott calls by separatists and several militant attacks ahead of key phases of polling. Jharkhand's 66.47 per cent voter turnout too was a record, for both Lok Sabha and assembly elections.

Exit Polls predict that the main opposition, Peoples Democratic Party will emerge as the single largest party in the 87-member Jammu and Kashmir assembly.

On Monday, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah ruled out a post-poll alliance with the BJP, saying its stand on various issues is "irreconcilable" with the views of his party, the National Conference.

Mr Abdullah said no lines of communication have been opened for a post-poll alliance with any other party. "What remains to be seen is how close to these so-called exit polls, the actual number stacks up," he said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed eight rallies in the state; his election rally in Srinagar was the first by the BJP in the Valley. Other top BJP leaders too campaigned extensively in J&K.

The BJP has, so far, not been a major player in J&K. But this year, it set itself a target first of winning 44-plus seats for a majority and then refined it into a Mission 50-plus.

Exit polls predict that the BJP and its ally, the All Jharkhand Students Union, or AJSU, could win 47 seats in the 81-member Jharkhand assembly.

The BJP has promised a stable government in Jharkhand, which over 14 years since its creation, has seen nine governments and three stints of President's Rule. Besides PM Modi, all key leaders of the party campaigned in the state.

In the general election this year, the BJP registered its best ever performance in J&K, winning three of the six Lok Sabha seats. The PDP had won the other three; the Congress-National Conference alliance was routed.

In Jharkhand, too, the BJP had posted a superlative result in the Lok Sabha polls, winning 12 of the state's 14 seats.