The highly anticipated results for the 2024 Assembly Elections in Haryana and Jammu & Kashmir will be declared tomorrow, October 8, as the counting of votes is scheduled to begin at 8 AM. Both states wrapped up their voting on October 5, setting the stage for an intense political showdown.
Haryana Elections: Key Players and Voter Base
Haryana, which saw voting for all 90 Assembly seats on October 5, has a total electorate of 2,03,00,255. The election battle featured major political parties, including the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Congress, Jannayak Janta Party (JJP), and Indian National Lok Dal (INLD).
The JJP has formed an alliance with the Azad Samaj Party (Kanshi Ram), while the INLD has tied up with the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP). This diverse field of contenders has raised the stakes in the state, which has been governed by the BJP since 2014 under former Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar. Earlier this year, Nayab Singh Saini replaced Khattar as the Chief Minister ahead of the state assembly elections, signaling a significant shift in leadership just months before the polls.
Jammu & Kashmir Elections: Multi-Phase Voting and Political Landscape
Jammu and Kashmir, which voted across three phases—September 18, 25, and October 1—has a voter base of 88,66,704 as per the electoral rolls. The elections were the first Assembly polls in the Union Territory since the revocation of Article 370 in 2019. Major political players in the region include the Jammu and Kashmir National Conference (JKNC), Jammu and Kashmir People’s Democratic Party (JKPDP), Congress, and BJP.
Other significant parties that could influence the results include the Jammu and Kashmir Apni Party (JKAP), led by Altaf Bukhari, Sajad Gani Lone’s Jammu and Kashmir People’s Conference (JKPC), and Engineer Rashid’s Jammu and Kashmir Awami Ittehad Party.
The previous Legislative Assembly was dissolved in 2018 after the BJP withdrew support from the coalition government led by Mehbooba Mufti of the PDP. The last state elections were held in 2014, and this election marks a significant moment for the region’s political future.
Anticipation Builds as Results Near
As counting day approaches, all eyes are on the potential alliances and final seat counts that will shape the next governments in both Haryana and Jammu & Kashmir. Exit polls have suggested tough contests in both regions, with the possibility of fragmented outcomes leading to post-election coalition talks.
The results, expected by late Tuesday evening, will be crucial in determining the political direction of both states and their role in the larger national political landscape.