BJP hat-trick in Haryana; NC-Congress alliance set to form new Govt in J&K

GUWAHATI, Oct 8: The ruling BJP in Haryana defied exit poll predictions and stormed to power for the third straight term while in Jammu & Kashmir, the National Conference-Congress alliance is inching towards a simple majority while the BJP bettered its tally of 2014 but once again finished second.

The talking point, however, has been the Haryana results which went against popular expectations and predictions by almost all psephelogists to give the BJP a historic straight third-term in office.

Although initial trends indicated to a possible Congress victory that prompted early celebrations in party offices in Haryana and elsewhere, the Congress numbers fell quickly giving the BJP a victory not many political pundits had predicted.

The BJP is poised to win 50 seats in the 90-member house while the Congress is expected to finish second with 35 seats. The INLD may finish up winning 2 seats while Independents could finish with three seats as counting of votes is still underway.

In Jammu & Kashmir, the National Conference has so far won 39 seats and is leading in 3 while the BJP has won 27 seats and is leading in two more. The Congress could muster just 6 seats, half of the 12 seats it won in 2014. The PDP won 3, while the Jammu Kashmir People Conference and AAP won 1 seats each respectively.

National Conference leader Farooq Abdulla confirmed that Omar Abdullah will become the Chief Minister.

(Last Updated at 4PM)