As the counting of votes began at 8 AM, early trends indicate significant shifts in the political landscape of Haryana and Jammu & Kashmir. In Haryana, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is currently leading over the Congress. Meanwhile, in Jammu & Kashmir, the BJP trails behind the National Conference–Congress alliance.
In the early counts, the BJP is ahead with 44 seats, while Congress follows closely with 41 seats. The majority mark in Haryana is set at 46 seats. This makes the ongoing contest crucial for both parties. Voter turnout was around 68% for the 90 seats in Haryana on October 5. This high turnout signals strong engagement from the electorate.
Historically, the BJP has dominated Haryana, winning the assembly elections in both 2014 and 2019. With ambitions for a hat-trick in 2024, the party is eager to maintain its dominance. In contrast, Congress, after a decade in opposition, is determined to stage a comeback.
The election landscape is further complicated by other parties like the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), Jannayak Janata Party (JJP), and Indian National Lok Dal (INLD). Their presence adds an additional layer of competition.
In Jammu & Kashmir, the stakes are especially high. This is the first assembly election in a decade. The National Conference and Congress alliance has reportedly crossed the majority mark with 52 seats. In contrast, the BJP trails with 25 seats.
This election is significant as it follows the abrogation of Article 370 in August 2019. Since the BJP withdrew from its coalition with the People’s Democratic Party in 2018, Jammu & Kashmir has been under central rule. This election provides a critical opportunity to establish an elected government for the first time since then.
The political scene is bustling. The NC–Congress alliance is emerging as a formidable contender against the BJP. The BJP, alongside the PDP and various regional parties, is also vying for power.
Voter engagement has improved, with Jammu & Kashmir recording a turnout of 63.88%. This is a notable increase from the 58.58% in the Lok Sabha elections. The heightened interest reflects a revitalized commitment to the democratic process, especially after years of central governance.
As the counting progresses, all eyes are on the final results from Haryana and Jammu & Kashmir. These outcomes will shape the political future of both regions. They will also set the tone for the upcoming national elections. The rivalry between the BJP and Congress in Haryana, combined with the historic nature of the Jammu & Kashmir elections, underscores the evolving dynamics of Indian politics. Stay tuned for updates and insights from these pivotal elections.
Kolkata: On Friday, January 10, 2026, Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha members demonstrated against West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee for her actions after the ED raids at the I-PAC office and its chief Pratik Jain's home. | In relation to an alleged coal smuggling case that stretches back a few years, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) searched the Indian Political Action Committee (I-PAC) office and Pratik Jain's home on Loudon Street in Kolkata on Thursday, January 8, 2025. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee launched a protest against the ED raids on I-PAC after the raid set off a political storm in the state. Why is a chief minister endorsing Pratik Jain, and who is he? Pratik Jain, a political strategist and co-founder of I-PAC, is a graduate of IIT Bombay. He is credited with helping I-PAC grow into one of the most significant political consulting organizations in India. I-PAC was established in 2015 and offers services like data-driven campaign management, support for governance, and voter outreach initiatives. It has collaborated with a number of Indian political groups throughout the years, notably West Bengal's Trinamool Congress (TMC). I-PAC reportedly collaborates closely with Abhishek Banerjee, the national general secretary of the Trinamool Congress, and his office. The company oversees the IT and media division of the Mamata Banerjee-led TMC and is in charge of creating its election campaigns. Mr. Jain was in charge of the Trinamool Congress's IT cell, according to Ms. Banerjee. According to his LinkedIn page, Jain, an engineering graduate from IIT Bombay, started his career as an analyst at the consulting firm Deloitte. He was one of the first members of Citizens of Accountable Governance, which later evolved into I-PAC. Arvind Kejriwal, M.K. Stalin, Jaganmohan Reddy, Uddhav Thackeray, Rahul Gandhi, and Nitish Kumar are just a few of the prominent figures with whom the political consultancy firm has collaborated.…
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