Counting for Haryana, Jammu and Kashmir polls to be held today

The results for the Assembly elections in Haryana and Jammu and Kashmir will be declared today, October 8.

Both Haryana and Jammu and Kashmir are witnessing a bipolar contest, though some regional players and independents are expected to play a decisive role in the government formation.

The counting of votes will begin at 8 am. Preliminary trends are expected to emerge by mid-day, with a clearer indication of outcomes likely by late afternoon.

While elections were held in three phases in Jammu and Kashmir on September 18, 25, and October 1, Haryana went to polls in a single phase October 5.

The Jammu and Kashmir Assembly Elections took place in three phases, with a recorded voter turnout of 61.38 per cent in the first phase on September 18, followed by 57.31 per cent in the second phase on September 25. In the final phase on October 1, a turnout of 65.48 per cent was recorded.

This was the first Assembly election in Jammu and Kashmir in 10 years. It is also the first since the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019, which reduced its status to a Union Territory.

While the Congress and National Conference continued their INDIA bloc partnership in the Assembly polls as well, the People’s Democratic Party, another INDIA bloc constituent, decided to go solo.

The key poll issues in the election were Article 370, restoration of full statehood, unemployment. Terrorism was a key factor in the Jammu region, which has seen a rise in militant attacks in the last one year.