J&K, Haryana Exit Polls 2024 LIVE: BJP Confident About ‘Big Mandate’ Despite Predictions, Congress Says ‘People Have Decided’

‘Let’s See…’: Congress Leader Kumari Selja On If She Will Become Haryana CM If Congress Wins

Senior Congress leader from Haryana, Kumari Selja on Saturday told CNN-News18 that the ultimate decision lies with the high command on who will become the chief minister if the party is voted to power in Haryana. “The Congress is coming to power with majority… We are happy with the results shown in exit polls,” she said. Asked if she will become the first woman CM of the northern state, she added: “Let’s see… I cannot say anything now because this decision lies with the high command because that’s how we do things in our party.”

‘Moment Of Happiness’: Wrestler Vinesh Phogat On Exit Poll Predictions

Wrestler Vinesh Phogat expressed happiness after the exit polls predicted a landslide win for the Congress in the Haryana assembly elections. “This is a moment of happiness for the people of Haryana. This is the result of the atrocities people had to face in the last 10 years…” she said. PTI

‘Kumar Selja Senior Leader, Why Doesn’t She Have Right…’: Hooda On Who Will Be CM If Congress Wins

Senior Congress leader Bhupinder Singh Hooda on Saturday tried to pacify questions on who will become the CM if the Congress is voted to power in Haryana. He said this decision lies with the top leadership, and that will be acceptable to all. “MLAs will be elected and whatever decision the high command takes (on the name of the CM) will be acceptable to all… She (Kumari Selja) is our senior leader, why doesn’t she have the right (to become the CM),” he told news agency ANI. He further said the Congress will win at least 65 seats when the results are declared on October 8. “…Congress government will be formed in Haryana, it will be formed with a huge majority…” he added.

‘BJP To Emerge As Single Largest Party’: J&K Unit Chief On Exit Poll Predictions

J&K BJP chief Ravinder Raina on Saturday said the BJP will emerge as the single largest party in the Union Territory, and he is waiting for the results on October 8. “BJP contested the elections with all its strength, and we are confident that it will emerge as the single largest party in Jammu and Kashmir. I feel that the BJP will emerge victorious when the results will be out on October 8,” he said about exit poll predictions, which showed that the BJP may capitalise on its strongholds in the Jammu region while the Congress-NC alliance may capture the vote in the Valley.

‘BJP Will Win With Huge Mandate’: Haryana CM Saini On Exit Poll Predictions For Assembly Elections

Despite predictions of a Congress sweep in the Haryana assembly elections, Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini expressed confidence that the BJP will win with huge numbers. He said he is waiting for the results to be out on October 8. “We will win with huge numners… We have worked for every sector. On October 8, the BJP will win with a huge mandate,” he added.

‘People Have Made Up Their Minds’: Hooda On Predictions Of Congress Sweep In Haryana

Former Haryana CM Bhupinder Singh Hooda told CNN-News18 that the people of the state have made up their minds to vote the Congress to power. “People have made up their minds to bring Congress to power. The BJP has not done anything for Haryana; there is no law and order in the state under BJP rule,” he said as the exit polls predicted a clean sweep for his party in the assembly elections, voting for which ended on Saturday.

‘Ignoring All The Noise’: Omar Abdullah Dismisses Exit Poll Predictions For J&K Assembly Elections

Former CM Omar Abdullah dismissed the exit polls for the Jammu and Kashmir assembly elections and dsaid he will wait for October 8, when the results will be revealed. “I’m amazed channels are bothering with exit polls especially after the fiasco of the recent general elections. I’m ignoring all the noise on channels, social media, WhatsApp Etc because the only numbers that matter will be revealed on the 8th of Oct. The rest is just time pass.” (sic) he wrote in a post on X.

Exit Polls 2024 LIVE: NC-Congress Combine Has Edge But BJP Snapping At Heels

The BJP may capitalise on its strongholds in the Jammu region as exit poll predictions showed on Saturday. But, the Congress-NC alliance is likely to overtake the saffron party in the Valley. Overall, the INDIA bloc was given an edge over the BJP in J&K, with some predicting 30 to 40 seats that may result in its falling short of the majority of 46 required in the 90-seat assembly.

Dainik Bhaskar predicted that the NC-Congress combine could win 35-40 seats. The BJP may end up with an impressive 20-25 seats. With 12-16 seats, independent candidates may surpass the PDP, which may get 4-7 seats.

Gulistan exit poll predicted a much closer contest, with 31-36 seats for the NC-Congress combine and a stunning 28-30 for the BJP. It also indicated a ‘kingmaker’ role for independent candidates who may end up with 19-23 seats and the PDP left with 5-7.

C-Voter Poll predicted 30-48 seats for the NC-Congress coalition, with BJP bagging 27-32. The survey showed that the PDP may end up with 6-12 seats, on par with independents who could get 6-11 seats.

People’s Pulse Poll suggests that the NC-Congress combine may emerge victorious with 46-50 seats, with the BJP bagging 23-27.

Exit Polls 2024 LIVE: Congress Predicted To Sweep Haryana

A Congress sweep is likely in the Haryana assembly elections, as exit polls came in thick and fast on Saturday. Various pollsters predicted 55 to 62 seats for the grand old party, much ahead of the majority mark of 46 in the 90-seat legislative assembly.

Matrize predicted 55-62 seats for the Congress and 18-24 seats for the BJP. It has predicted 0-3 seats for JJP+, 3-6 seats for INLD+, and 2-5 for ‘Others’. The Matrize survey has predicted zero seats for the AAP in Haryana.

DHRUV predicted that the Congress may win 57 seats in the state, while the BJP is tipped to win 27. It has predicted zero seats for JJP+, INLD+, and AAP. The survey predicts six seats for ‘Others’.

Dainik Bhaskar exit polls predicted 44-54 seats for the Congress and 19-29 seats for the BJP. The survey expects 0-1 seat for JJP+ and 1-5 seats for INLD+. The AAP may win at the most one seat in Haryana, it showed.

Peoples Pulse predicted that the Congress may win 49 seats, while it has given the BJP 24 seats. It has predicted one seat for JJP+ and none for INLD+ and AAP. The survey expects ‘Others’ to get 16 seats.

P-Marq, meanwhile, predicted that the Congress will come to power in Haryana with 56 seats, while the BJP may bag 31. It gives zero seats to JJP+, INLD+ and AAP, while giving three seats to ‘Others’.

Exit Polls 2024 LIVE: Who Will Win J&K? All Eyes On Congress-NC, BJP

In the first assembly poll after the 2019 abrogation of Article 370, voting took place in three phases with the UT recording a higher turnout than the Lok Sabha elections. PM Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi, and former CMs Farooq Abdullah, Omar Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti, held extensive campaigning for weeks.

There is tough competition between the Congress-NC alliance and BJP, while the PDP is also in the mix along with other strong independent candidates. In the previous assembly elections in 2014, the PDP emerged as the largest party with 28 seats, while the BJP won 25, the NC secured 15, and the Congress finished with 12 seats.

Exit Polls 2024 LIVE: Higher Voter Turnout In Assembly Polls Than Lok Sabha In J&K

After the conclusion of all three phases, the poll percentage in Jammu and Kashmir stood at 63.45, which is higher than the turnout recorded in the recently held Lok Sabha elections in the Union Territory.

According to the J&K CEO office, there were more than 39.18 lakh eligible voters in the final phase. “Poll percentage in first phase (covering 24 constituencies on September 18) was 61.38 percent, in second phase (covering 26 segments on September 25) it was 57.31 percent and in last third phase (covering 40 seats) poll percentage is 68.72 percent (tentative). Overall poll percentage comes to 63.45 percent (tentative),” the statement said.

The overall poll percentage recorded in the Lok Sabha elections was 57.89 percent. Srinagar, Pulwama, Shopian and Baramulla districts set new records for voting, which is the best in the last three decades.

J&K, Haryana Exit Polls 2024 LIVE: Who Are The Other Important Candidates In Haryana?

Ellenabad & Rania, Abhay Chautala and son Arjun: The INLD leader is seeking yet another term as MLA from his stronghold, while his son Arjun Singh Chautala is making his debut from the neighbouring constituency of Rania. This means another member of the Chautala clan is in the mix.

Uchana Kalan & Dabwali, Dushyant Chautala and brother Digvijay: While former deputy CM Dushyant Chautala will hope to retain Uchana Kalan, his brother Digvijay is in a three-way fight in Dabwali, from where his father was an MLA of the INLD when the clan was united. Incumbent Congress MLA Amit Sihag also has a family connection with the Chautalas while the INLD has fielded Aditya Devi Lal, who suffixes the name of his grandfather — Chautala clan’s original patriarch and legendary farm leader Devi Lal — to his name.

Sirsa, Gopal Kanda: The controversial businessman, whose Haryana Lokhit Party (HLP) is in alliance with the INLD and BSP, is among the richer candidates and the sitting MLA in Sirsa – also home to the Dera Sacha Sauda. His alleged closeness to the BJP, which has not fielded a candidate here, has been a talking point. He is facing Congress Youth leader Gokul Setia, who is also a rich businessman and is seen as a Rahul Gandhi pick.

J&K, Haryana Exit Polls 2024 LIVE: Who Are The Important Congress Candidates In Haryana?

Garhi Sampla-Kiloi, Bhupinder Singh Hooda: The top leader of the Congress is in the fray from what is considered his home constituency, where he is the sitting MLA. He had got nearly 66% of the vote last time.

Kaithal, Aditya Surjewala: This is being seen as a prestige battle for Congress leader Randeep Surjewala, father of Aditya Surjewala, who lost this seat by less than 1% vote last time. This is seen as the family stronghold, but the BJP has a formidable candidate in Leela Ram Gujjar, who won last time and is the sitting MLA.

Julana, Vinesh Phogat: The face of the wrestlers’ protest at Jantar Mantar in Delhi last year, Olympian Vinesh Phogat entered politics and joined the Congress soon after her disqualification at the Paris Games. Julana is her in-laws’ home and, though the constituency is far from a Congress stronghold, her “tragic hero” image is key.

J&K, Haryana Exit Polls 2024 LIVE: Who Are The Important BJP Candidates In Haryana?

Ladwa, Nayab Singh Saini: He had contested from Karnal to enter the state legislative assembly after his predecessor, ML Khattar, vacated it and moved to national politics. In the Lok Sabha polls, the BJP got over 47% of the vote in this assembly segment, which makes it a relatively safe seat for the incumbent and projected CM. The seat is presently held by the Congress.

Ambala Cantt, Anil Vij: Among the senior-most leaders in the Haryana BJP, Vij has won half a dozen times from this constituency. His claim to the CM’s chair this time has made headlines and has been seen as emblematic of the saffron party’s internal pulls and pressures.

Tosham, Shruti Choudhary: Granddaughter of former CM Bansi Lal, she is a former MP who recently joined the BJP from the Congress as her mother Kiran Choudhary switched sides over differences with the Hoodas. Kiran won the seat last time with nearly 60% of the votes.

J&K, Haryana Exit Polls 2024 LIVE: Who Are The Other Players In Haryana?

There are other players on the field, most prominently the divided Chautala clan that is split between the INLD and JJP. Dushyant Chautala’s JJP, which was new last time but got 10 seats, had taken away a major chunk of the traditional INLD vote, making an emotional pitch that the younger lot had been wronged and thrown out by the older lot, particularly his uncle Abhay Chautala.

The JJP’s partnership with the BJP later gave it a seat on the power table, but also confused, even frustrated its supporters, who saw it as a betrayal of the original mandate. Dushyant has been facing tough questions, particularly from the farming communities, over his equation with the BJP.

Abhay Chautala, who was the lone INLD MLA last time and even resigned showing support for the farmers’ protest, sees this as a chance to revive his party. He has partnered with the BSP to build a Jat-Dalit combination. But, Dushyant is also trying the same formula by partnering with the Azad Samaj Party (Kanshi Ram), led by UP MP Chandrashekhar Azad.

J&K, Haryana Exit Polls 2024 LIVE: Internal Rifts Mar Congress Image In Haryana

The Congress has put all its weight behind long-time warhorse Bhupinder Singh Hooda, who was CM for 10 years before the BJP’s decade began in 2014. The party is, however, saddled with long-running internal feuds.

Kumari Selja – a prominent Dalit leader, Gandhi family loyalist and former Union minister – has been quite open about her political ambitions. Another Gandhi loyalist, Randeep Singh Surjewala’s son Aditya Surjewala, has got the ticket from Kaithal. But, if analysis of the ticket distribution is anything to go by, the high command is set in its plans to have Hooda, assisted by his son Deepender, lead the way. Selja has not even been given a ticket despite showing strong interest in moving to state-level politics, whereas Surjewala’s son is contesting.

The party is depending on Jat vote consolidation this time after the divide and decline of the Chautala clan. When it comes to social engineering, it is also hoping that the Dalit communities choose it over multiple other options being presented to them.

J&K, Haryana Exit Polls 2024 LIVE: BJP Anxious In Haryana After Lok Sabha Results

The BJP was once a junior partner of the INLD in Haryana and a part of the state government led by that party’s patriarch Om Prakash Chautala. The party decisively broke up with the INLD more than a decade ago. But, observers predicted it will be able to stand on its own in the state. The Narendra Modi juggernaut, however, became the prime factor as the saffron party scripted back-to-back victories in the 2014 and 2019 assembly polls.

But, the decline in its graph was apparent as, in 2019, it fell just short of the majority and had to depend on the breakaway party of the Chautala clan, the JJP, led by Dushyant Chautala. In the Lok Sabha polls earlier this year, it came down by half from its earlier clean sweep of 10/10 seats.

The party faces anger, particularly from the farming communities – most prominently the Jats – with the 2020-21 farmers’ agitation being a major plot twist. It has, in the past, sought to consolidate the non-Jat votes while the Jat vote would get divided.

J&K, Haryana Exit Polls 2024 LIVE: What Are The Key Poll Issues In Haryana?

Haryana has seen most of the poll rhetoric centred around issues of unemployment, farm distress and corruption. National issues also made some appearances; for instance, when PM Narendra Modi brought up the abrogation of Article 370 in J&K, and Rahul Gandhi spoke of alleged cronyism. The Congress has alleged rampant bribery in providing government jobs and claimed that not enough employment was created. It has repeatedly brought up the 2020-21 farmers’ protest, listing the Centre’s repeal of the three contentious farm laws as an admission of “anti-farmer” policies.

Campaign rhetoric of the INLD and the JJP has been along similar lines, but they have stressed that the Congress does not have a better record. The BJP has insisted that its government was the keenest when it comes to giving jobs on merit. The party has also listed central schemes targeted at farmers and distressed sections of society among its achievements and offerings.

J&K, Haryana Exit Polls 2024 LIVE: BJP Hopes To Hold On, Congress Eyes Comeback

The Congress is eyeing a comeback in Haryana after 10 years, banking on anti-incumbency against the BJP government and its own relative ascendance since the Lok Sabha elections. The BJP, which changed its CM from Manohar Lal Khattar to Nayab Singh Saini only months ahead of the assembly elections, is depending on a strategy of splintering key vote banks to retain power and relevance.

PM Narendra Modi, in a rally at Palwal on October 1, called the Congress an “anti-Dalit” and “anti-reservation” party. The Congress, which has called for a caste census and makes a similar allegation against the BJP, is keen that the Jats and Dalits consolidate behind it. Modi, Congress leaders Priyanka Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi among others have led the intense campaigning in the northern state that voted in a single phase on Thursday.