Haryana, J&K votes to be counted today; national politics set for a churn

NT Correspondents Chandigarh/ Srinagar: Political parties and leaders are waiting with bated breath for the Haryana and Jammu and Kashmir Assembly poll results on Tuesday which are expected to lead to a significant shift in national politics. Though both are relatively small states, the fact that the two elections are happening just months after the Lok Sabha polls, have made political analysts look out for a further shift in the fortunes of the BJP and Congress-led fronts at the national level. Exit polls have pointed to comfortable victories for the Congress and its allies in both states which would mean a further downslide in BJP fortunes; the Congress on the other hand would be sitting pretty after adding Haryana and J&K to its kitty as it is already in power in states like Karnataka, Himachal Pradesh and Telangana.

Elections are due in Maharashtra and Jharkhand soon and an adverse result in Maharashtra would led to substantial loss of face for the BJP as this is the largest state in the country after Uttar Pradesh. It would also swing the trend in favour of the national opposition in states like Bihar which goes to polls next year. A negative trend in the states could mean further problems for the ruling BJP-led NDA which has a slender majority in parliament and is crucially dependent on the support of its allies like the JD(U) and TDP. A rethink among the allies in such a situation also cannot be ruled out. Officials said all preparations, including security arrangements, have been completed for the counting process which begins at 8 am on October 8. The elections in Haryana are the first major direct contest between the BJP and the Congress following the Lok Sabha polls.

The key parties in the fray are the BJP, the Congress, Aam Aadmi Party, INLD-BSP and JJP-Azad Samaj Party. A total of 1,031 candidates, including 464 Independents and 101 women, are in the fray on Haryana's 90 constituencies which voted in single phase on October 5. Rejecting the exit poll results, Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini has claimed his party BJP will form the government for a third time with full majority on October 8. On the other hand, Congress leader and former Haryana chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda, a frontrunner for the chief minister's post if his party wins, exuded confidence of a comfortable majority. IN Jammu and Kashmir, the Congress and the National Conference, which formed a pre-poll alliance, claimed they would cross the magical figure of 46 in the 90-member House on their own. The BJP is relying on independent candidates and the PDP said no secular government was possible in Jammu and Kashmir without its support.

Heavy security arrangements have been put in place at all 20 counting centres and district headquarters across Jammu and Kashmir for Tuesday's vote count. This was the first Assembly election in Jammu and Kashmir since the abrogation of Article 370.