New Delhi, October 5: The exit polls for the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly elections, which are being held for the first time in a decade, indicate a tight contest with the National Conference (NC)-Congress alliance leading.
Various projections show the NC-Congress bloc potentially securing between 35 to 50 seats, inching closer to the 46-seat majority mark in the 90-member assembly.
Meanwhile, the BJP, running solo, is predicted to win 20-32 seats, and the People's Democratic Party (PDP) is expected to claim 4-12 seats, depending on the survey.
Other smaller parties and independents are projected to win between 4 and 18 seats.
The elections are significant as they mark the first assembly polls in the region since the abrogation of Article 370, which previously granted Jammu and Kashmir special autonomy.
Prominent leaders like Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, and Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Farooq Abdullah were actively involved in the campaign.
The polls saw a voter turnout of 63.88% overall, with the third phase recording the highest at nearly 70%. The final results will be declared on October 8.
These polls are closely watched, as they could redefine the political landscape of Jammu and Kashmir post-Article 370 and gauge the electorate’s sentiment toward regional and national political alliances.
