BJP set for third term in Haryana, NC-Congress sweeps historic Jammu and Kashmir elections

As per the latest trends, the BJP is leading in 50 out of 90 seats while Congress is ahead in 34 seats leaving behind 2 for INLD and 4 for Others.

The Aam Aadmi Party, which is ambitious about its expansion beyond Delhi and Punjab, drew a blank.

Though the initial trends in the morning saw Congress marching towards victory with around 60 seats, the tables turned at around 10 am when BJP clawed back and went past the grand old party in its bid to retain the Hindi heartland state, which saw massive farmers' protests against the Modi government in the last few years.

Chief Minister Nayab Singh Sayani is leading from both the seats of Ladwa and Kurukshetra.

Wrestler Vinesh Phogat, who fought the Haryana assembly elections on Congress' candidate, is set for a win on her poll debut.

Phogat, who contested from Julana, is leading by over 5,000 votes after 14 rounds of vote counting. He is set to defeat BJP's Yogesh Kumar.

Phogat was one of the wrestlers who were on the forefront of a protest against BJP leader, former Wrestling Federation of India president and ex-Union Minister Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh over sexual harassment charges.

The National Conference-Congress is set for a sweeping victory in the first assembly elections held in Jammu and Kashmir after 10 years

As per the trends, the NC-Congress alliance is leading in 52 out of 90 seats, BJP in 27 seats, Peoples Democratic Party in 2 seats and Others in 9 seats.

The Jammu Kashmir Assembly polls were historic, being held for the first time since the region underwent major changes over the past five years, including the abrogation of Article 370 on August 5, 2019.

This led to the conversion of the state to a Union Territory (UT) and its division, with Ladakh becoming a separate UT without a legislature.

Meanwhile, National Conference president Farooq Abdullah has announced his son and party leader Omar Abdullah will become the next Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister.

"People have responded to the abrogation of Article 370," Farooq Abdullah told reporters.

Farooq Abdullah, a former Chief Minister, told ANI, "After 10 years the people have given their mandate to us. We pray to Allah that we meet their expectations...It will not be 'police raj' here but 'logon ka raj' here. We will try to bring out the innocent persons who are jailed. Media will be free.

"We have to develop trust between Hindus and Muslims. I am hopeful that INDIA alliance partners will fight with us to restore statehood here...I understand Omar Abdullah will become the CM."