India’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has pulled off a surprising victory in the northern state of Haryana, despite initial predictions favoring the opposition Congress party. On the other hand, the opposition alliance led by the Jammu Kashmir National Conference (JKNC) party was ahead in the assembly elections in Indian-administered Kashmir after a decade.
The BJP managed to secure a third consecutive term in Haryana, defying expectations set by exit polls that favored the Congress party. In Kashmir, the JKNC was leading in the assembly elections, with final results yet to be announced.
The BJP’s unexpected win in Haryana is seen as a significant achievement for Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his party, especially as they gear up for upcoming state elections in Maharashtra and Jharkhand.
In Haryana, the BJP won or is leading in 48 out of 90 seats, while the Congress is ahead in 37, with other parties and independents winning a few seats. In Kashmir, the JKNC led with 42 seats, followed by Congress with 6, BJP with 29, and other parties and independents with 10 seats out of 90.
The elections in Haryana and Kashmir hold importance as they were the first after the parliamentary elections earlier in the year. The BJP, despite not securing a majority in the national elections, has managed to make a comeback in Haryana, a predominantly agrarian state.
In Kashmir, the elections come five years after the region’s autonomy was revoked by the Indian government, leading to increased central control over the territory. The BJP’s promise of development in the region has faced criticism, with ongoing security challenges and economic issues persisting.
The Congress party’s performance in Haryana was analyzed to have been impacted by factors such as issues with exit polls, alienation of non-Jat communities, and rebel candidates causing splits in the vote share.
The inclusion of nominated members in the Kashmir assembly has raised concerns over potential manipulation of democracy, with opposition parties questioning the move as an attempt to influence the composition of the assembly.
Overall, the results of the assembly elections in Haryana and Kashmir have brought about significant shifts in the political landscape, setting the stage for future developments in these regions.