Election Results: BJP Gets Jharkhand, Close No 2 in Jammu and Kashmir

Amid speculation on whether the PDP and the BJP could come together in an alliance in J&K, union minister Rajnath Singh has asserted, "The BJP will form government in both the states, in Jharkhand and in J&K."

The PDP is leading in 30 seats, which puts it in a position to call the shots in Jammu and Kashmir. It can ally with the BJP, which is leading in 26 seats, or even with the Congress which is at number 4 in the state with 12 seats. The PDP's Mufti Mohammed Sayeed seems in place to be the next chief minister.

To form government in J&K, a party or alliance needs 44 of the state's 87 seats. The Congress has indicated that it is open to partnering with any party in J&K. "One thing is clear that we will not go with BJP," said senior Congressman Ghulam Nabi Azad.

In Jharkhand, the BJP along with allies is leading in 41 seats, the number it needs for a majority in the 81-member Jharkhand assembly. The Jharkhand Mukti Morcha of Chief Minister Heman Soren is ahead in 17 seats. The Congress is wiped out.

The biggest gainer in J&K is the BJP, with a commanding performance in the Jammu region. The big loser is Omar Abdullah's National Conference. Mr Abdullah, who contested two seats, lost in Sonawar.

The BJP had hoped to open its account in the Kashmir Valley in this election, but Hina Bhatt, its one candidate who put up a fight, has lost in Amira Kadal. In 1987, Muslim United Front candidate Mohammed Yusuf Shah was defeated here in a controversial result. He is now called Syed Salahuddin and is the chief of the Hizbul Mujahideen.

Former separatist leader Sajjad Lone of the People's Conference has won from Handwara. Before the elections, Mr Lone called Prime Minster Narendra Modi "like my older brother." He has not ruled out a post election tie-up with the BJP.

Kashmir saw its highest voter turnout, 65 per cent, in 25 years 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.

In Jharkhand, former chief minister Madhu Koda has lost. Three others, Arjun Munda, Babulal Marandi and Hemant Soren, are trailing. The BJP did not name a chief ministerial candidate this time and built its campaign around PM Modi and his development agenda.

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. It did not name a chief ministerial candidate and built its campaign around PM Modi and his development agenda.