Exit polls released on Saturday paint a promising picture for the Congress party in Haryana, predicting a clear majority, while in Jammu and Kashmir (J&K), a hung assembly is anticipated. The predictions, based on voter feedback collected post-polling, suggest a significant shift in both states’ political landscapes.
In Haryana, Dainik Bhaskar predicts Congress will secure between 44-54 seats out of the 90-member assembly, enough to comfortably surpass the majority mark of 46 seats. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which has held power in Haryana, is predicted to win 19-29 seats, a sharp decline from its current standing. This result, if accurate, could mark the end of the BJP’s control in the state, with Congress poised for a comeback.
Other pollsters, such as Axis My India, C-Voter, Nielsen, and Chanakya, are expected to release their predictions in collaboration with various news channels. Their exit poll data, live-streamed from 6:30 PM, came shortly after voting concluded in Haryana’s 90 seats.
In Jammu and Kashmir, where voting was held in three phases on September 18, 25, and October 1, a hung assembly seems likely. The India Today-C Voter exit poll predicts that the National Conference (NC)-Congress alliance will emerge as the largest bloc, with 40-48 seats. The BJP is expected to secure 23-27 seats, while the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) might win 6-12 seats. Other smaller parties and independent candidates are forecast to win between 6-11 seats. With the majority mark in J&K set at 46, these predictions indicate a fragmented political scenario that may lead to coalition negotiations post-election.
Dainik Bhaskar’s predictions in J&K follow similar lines, forecasting 33-35 seats for the National Conference (NC), 23-27 for Congress, 13-15 for the BJP, and 7-11 seats for the PDP. This points toward a fractured mandate, where no single party or alliance appears set to achieve a clear majority.
Another notable exit poll, conducted by Peoples Pulse, has predicted that Congress will win 49-55 seats in Haryana, reinforcing the trend of Congress leading in most predictions. The BJP, in this poll, is expected to secure 26-32 seats. In J&K, the same poll predicts 33-35 seats for NC, with Congress trailing at 23-27 seats, and BJP expected to capture 13-15 seats.
The exit poll predictions indicate that Congress could be on the verge of regaining power in Haryana after years of BJP dominance, while J&K’s electoral outcome may be uncertain, setting the stage for potential post-election alliances. The Election Commission of India (ECI) is set to announce the official results of both Haryana and J&K assembly elections on October 8, making this an election season to watch closely.