Haryana, J&K asemblky election votes are being counted
In a dramatic turn of events, the BJP has overtaken the Congress after early rounds of counting and is headed for its best show in Haryana. The Congress has good news in J&K, where its alliance with National Conference is winning the polls
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At 1 pm, about five hours into the counting, the BJP is ahead on 49 out of 90 seats in Haryana, and the Congress is ahead on 34.
With the counting trends pointing to its victory in Haryana, the BJP leadership has called a meeting at the residence of former Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar. The Congress, on the other hand, has questioned the Election Commission over the tardy pace of counting.
Exit polls had predicted a Congress victory in Haryana and a split verdict in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir. If the current trends hold, both predictions will be proved wrong.
In Haryana, the BJP was seen at a disadvantage owing to anti-incumbency, and dissatisfaction of the Jats and the farmer community. But the Congress's focus on Jat votes may have led to a counter consolidation of non-Jat votes.
Another key factor in the BJP's comeback is the infighting within the Congress. A power tussle between veteran leader Bhupinder Singh Hooda, who got a free hand in the Congress campaign, and other key leaders such as Kumari Shelja appears to have harmed the Congress prospects.
In Jammu and Kashmir, it is the National Conference that has scripted an epic comeback and is now heading towards majority on its own. The Abdullahs-led party has virtually carried its ally Congress in the Union Territory to a good show.
Election in Jammu and Kashmir took place after a decade, for the most part of which it was under President's Rule. Its special status granted under the Constitution was scrapped and the state was split into two Union Territories in 2019.
While delimitation levelled the ground to an extent for the BJP, with Jammu region having 43 seats against Kashmir's 47, parties in the Valley contend that the LG's power to nominate five MLAs could give the BJP an advantage.
After the Delimitation Commission increased the number of seats in the Union Territory, a fresh rule granted the LG powers to nominate five members - two women, two Kashmiri Pandits and a displaced person from Pakistan Occupied Kashmir - to the Legislative Assembly, increasing the total number of seats to 95. This would effectively raise the majority mark to 48 instead of 46.
"Any such move is an assault on democracy, the people's mandate, and the fundamental principles of the Constitution," Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee senior vice president and chief spokesperson Ravinder Sharma has said.