J&K Exit Poll: NC-Congress Ahead, BJP in Strong Pursuit

Srinagar: Almost all of the exit polls have projected a hung assembly in Jammu and Kashmir, with the National Conference-Congress alliance likely to win between 40 and 48 seats in the 95-member legislative assembly. While 90 seats are filled through elections, five are nominated by the Lieutenant Governor.

In the Kashmir Valley, which holds 47 seats, the BJP is expected to perform poorly once again, following its zero-seat record in 2014. However, it might secure some ground this time. The party is projected to maintain its dominance in Jammu, with estimates suggesting it will win between 27 and 31 of the region’s 43 seats, according to the CVoter poll.

The poll results signal positive news for the National Conference and Congress, while dashing the BJP’s ambitions. Despite the central government’s focus on transforming the region under the ‘Naya Kashmir’ initiative, which promised peace, development, and prosperity, the results indicate that these efforts haven’t translated into votes for the saffron party.

A key question that arises is why the BJP’s ‘Naya Kashmir’ agenda didn’t yield better electoral results, especially after the party worked hard to build its presence in the Valley and formed alliances with local parties like Syed Altaf Bukhari’s Apni Party and Sajjad Lone’s Peoples Conference.

The BJP’s failure to make inroads in Kashmir is seen as a setback in its quest to have its first-ever Chief Minister in Jammu and Kashmir. The party’s poor performance in the region was also evident during the Lok Sabha elections, where it didn’t field candidates in the three Valley constituencies, reflecting its struggles to win local support following the abrogation of Article 370.

As per the exit polls, the Congress-National Conference alliance is expected to win 40-48 of the 90 elected seats, with the BJP securing 27-32. Mehbooba Mufti’s PDP may win 6-12 seats, while other smaller parties and independents are projected to take 6-11 seats.