Haryana, Kashmir election results: Modi’s BJP ahead in one state but trails in another

The Congress had expressed confidence of a victory in Haryana ahead of the results but analysts now say complacency, infighting and a consolidation against the powerful Jat community may have affected its chances.

A keenly watched seat in Haryana – Julana – gave some relief to the Congress as top wrestler Vinesh Phogat won her first election.

The results in both states have proven exit polls wrong again – they had predicted a majority for the Congress in Haryana and a hung assembly in Jammu and Kashmir.

Both states have 90 assembly seats and a party or coalition that crosses the halfway mark can form the government.

According to votes counted so far, the Congress-NC alliance is ahead in around 48 seats in Jammu and Kashmir, while the BJP is ahead in 29. The BJP’s count was helped by its performance in the Hindu-majority Jammu region.

This was the first assembly election to be held in Jammu and Kashmir since 2019, when the federal government revoked the region’s autonomy and changed it into a federally governed territory of Jammu and Kashmir.

The three-phase elections saw top leaders from the BJP and Congress make several promises, including the restoration of full statehood.

Many voters told the BBC that they hoped that the election would give them a chance to voice their concerns after having no local representatives for years.

However, many say they are sceptical about how much influence the elected government will have, since the chief minister will have to get the federally appointed lieutenant governor’s approval on major decisions.