The counting of votes for Haryana and Jammu& Kashmir assembly polls began at 8 am amid tight security arrangements.
In Haryana, the political landscape is charged as the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) aims for a historic third consecutive term. Meanwhile, the Congress party is seeking to reclaim its foothold after a decade in the opposition.
The elections in Haryana are the first major direct contest between the BJP and the Congress following the Lok Sabha polls, and the result here would be used by the winner to build a narrative in their favour in other states where polls due over the next few months.
The key parties in the fray are the BJP, the Congress, Aam Aadmi Party, INLD-BSP and JJP-Azad Samaj Party.
However, most seats are likely to see a direct fight between the BJP and the Congress.
Simultaneously, attention will be on Jammu and Kashmir, as this was the first Assembly election in the union territory in 10 years. It is also the first since the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019, which reduced its status to a Union Territory.
Exit polls predicted a clear majority for the Congress in Haryana and gave an edge to its alliance with the National Conference in Jammu and Kashmir, with the regional partner emerging as the single largest party.
Counting of votes for Haryana, Jammu and Kashmir polls begins
Visuals from Panchkula, where postal ballots for Kalka assembly seats are being taken out.
Postal ballots to be counted first
Postal ballots will be counted first for the Haryana and J&K polls, followed by the counting of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) after 30 minutes.
Early celebrations at Congress headquarters in Delhi
Ahead of the counting of votes for the assembly polls in Jammu and Kashmir and Haryana, Congress workers begun celebrating outside the party headquarters in Delhi.
It must be noted that Exit polls predicted a clear majority for the Congress in Haryana and gave an edge to its alliance with the National Conference in Jammu and Kashmir, with the regional partner emerging as the single largest party.
Early trends: Congress takes lead in Haryana; close contest in J-K
Early trends showed the Congress ahead in Haryana, and in a close contest with the BJP in Jammu and Kashmir.
The Congress was ahead on 24 seats, and the BJP on 19 in Haryana, with early postal ballot trends showing two seats in favour of 'others'.
In Jammu and Kashmir the Congress-National Conference alliance was tied at eight seats with the BJP, while the PDP was yet to lead in any seat.
Whichever party forms the government, listen to the people: MP Engineer Rashid
Baramulla MP Sheikh Abdul Rashid, popularly known as Engineer Rashid, has called on the party that forms the government in Jammu and Kashmir to prioritize the voices of the people.
"My request is that whichever party assumes power should listen to the people and address real issues—such as autonomy, a resolution to the Kashmir conflict, human rights, governance, nepotism, and corruption," he said.
Congress extends lead in Haryana
As postal ballots get counted, the Congress is extending its lead in Haryana, now leading on 26 seats, while the BJP leads in 19.
Visuals from a counting centre in Rajouri, J&K
CM Nayab Saini, Hooda leading on their seats
Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini was leading from his Ladwa seta in Kurukshetra district, while Congress leader Bhupinder Singh Hooda was ahead of his rivals in Garhi Sampla-Kiloi constituency in Rohtak district.
Vinesh Phogat leads in Julana
Wrestler-turned-politician Vinesh Phogat is leading from Julana assembly seat.
AAP opens account, leads in 2 seats in Haryana
AAP candidates Satbir Singh Goyal and Ani Ranga are leading from Kaithal and Narwana assembly constituencies, respectively.
Congress surges ahead in Haryana
Congress has surged past the BJP in Haryana with its candidates leading in 39 seats.
Official Election Commission trends coming in. BJP leading on 5, JKNC on 3.
Congress crosses half way mark in Haryana
The Congress party has crossed the halfway mark in Haryana with leads in 50 seats. The incumbent BJP is leading in 21 seats.
Congress- NC alliance leading in 40 seats in J&K
Congress- NC alliance leading in 40 seats, BJP leading in 28 seats, PDP in 5 and Independents in 12.
BJP setback in Haryana
Currently, the BJP leads in only 30 seats in Haryana. If the current numbers hold, the party will be facing a setback in the state where it has been in power for the last 10 years.
Congress confident of winning J&K and Haryana
The Congress party has exuded confidence in winning both Haryana and Jammu & Kashmir even as the BJP is leading in 26 seats in the Union Territory. “We are confident that Congress and its alliance will get people’s blessings in both the states,” says Congress leader Pawan Khera.
Iltija Mufti trails from Srigufwara-Bijbehara
PDP candidate Iltija Mufti, daughter of PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti, is trailing from Srigufwara-Bijbehara seat.
Bashir Ahmad Shah Veeri of the National Conference is leading from there.
Congress workers burst crackers as party leading in Haryana and J&K
Congress workers burst firecrackers outside AICC headquarters in Delhi as early trends show party is headed towards a big victory in Haryana and lead for Congress-National Conference alliance in Jammu and Kashmir.
Omar Abdullah leading in both Ganderbal and Budgam seats
Former J&K Chief Minister and NC vice president Omar Abdullah leading from both Ganderbal and Budgam seats.
CPI(M)'s MY Tarigami leads from Kulgam seat
Communist Party of India (Marxist) leader Mohamad Yousuf Tarigami is leading from the Kulgam assembly constituency.
Congress-NC didn't field any candidate from Kulgam.
Haryana CM Nayab Saini trailing as early trends set in
Election Results Haryana: Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini and other ministers trail as the initial results pour in.
BJP leads in 44 seats in Haryana, with Congress a close second at 41 seats
Wrestler- politician Vinesh Phogat leading in Julana seat
Congress candidate from Julana, Vinesh Phogat leaves from a counting centre in Jind, Haryana. She is leading from Julana.
Haryana CM Nayab Saini leading by 732 votes
Haryana Chief Minister and BJP candidate Nayab Singh Saini is leading from the Ladwa assembly seat against his nearest rival and Congress nominee Mewa Singh, according to the Election Commission.
Saini was leading by 732 votes, as per the early trends.
There should be no fiddling with people's mandate: Omar Abdullah
National Conference vice president Omar Abdullah asserted there should be no "fiddling" with the mandate of people in Jammu and Kashmir, and the Centre and the Raj Bhavan must not indulge in any "machinations".
"Transparency should be there. Whatever happens should be done transparently. There should be no fiddling with the peoples' mandate.
If the mandate of the people is against the BJP, then the BJP should not indulge in any 'jugaad' (machinations) or something else," Abdullah told reporters here as early trends from counting of votes showed the party ahead of the BJP and other rivals.
The NC leader, who is contesting the assembly polls from Ganderbal and Budgam seats, expressed hope his party's alliance with the Congress will with the polls.
"We have hopes of a win, but the rest is in the hands of God. We will come to know around the noon what the people of J-K have decided," he added.
Sajjad Lone trails in both Handwara and Kupwara assembly seats
Peoples Conference (PC) chairman Sajjad Lone is trailing from both Handwara and Kupwara assembly seats.
NC candidate Chowdry Mohammad Ramzan is leading from Handwara while Mir Mohammad Fayaz of PDP is leading from Kupwara.
Congress, BJP locked in close battle in Haryana
The pendulum of Haryana election results has again tilted in favour of the BJP, which is now leading in 45 seats.
The Congress party, which had hit the halfway mark in early trends, is now leading in 38 seats.
EC trends show BJP past halfway mark in Haryana
The BJP has crossed the halfway mark of 45 in the Haryana assembly polls and was leading on 48 seats now, while the Congress was ahead on 33, according to the latest trends on the Election Commission website.
The early trends available on TV channels showed the Congress ahead of the BJP, but the ruling made rapid strides later.
According to EC trends available at 10.20 am, the BJP was leading in 48 seats and the Congress on 34. The majority mark for the 90-member assembly is 46.
JJP's Dushyant Chautala trailing from Uchana Kalan
JJP leader Dushyant Chautala is trailing from the Uchana Kalan assembly seat in Haryana, according to Election Commission of India trends.
Chautala, a former deputy chief minister of Haryana, was at the fifth spot, the trends showed around 10.30 am.
Congress candidate Brijendra Singh was leading by a margin of 1,362 votes from his nearest rival and BJP candidate Devender Chatar Bhuj Attri.
BJP leads in Haryana in early trends
BJP- 46 Congress-37 JJP+ - 0 AAP- 0 Others- 7
Congress's Vinesh Phogat continues to trail
Congress candidate and wrestler Vinesh Phogat is trailing from Julana assembly seat in Haryana's Jind district, losing her initial lead, according to the Election Commission website.
Phogat was trailing behind her BJP rival Yogesh Kumar by a margin of 3,641 votes.
Haryana CM Nayab Saini, Bhupinder Hooda lead on their seats
Haryana chief minister Nayab Saini and former CM Bhupinder Singh Hooda are leading from their respective seats. While Hooda is leading by 22,182 votes after four rounds of counting, Saini is leading by 3070 votes after three rounds of counting.
Bhupinder Singh Hooda confident of Congress victory
Former Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda told the media that he was confident in his party winning the Assembly polls in the state, despite the BJP crossing the halfway mark as per the early trends.
He reiterated that the Congress will form the government in the state with a majority and added the Chief Ministerial face will be decided by the party's top brass."Credit goes to the party, Rahul Gandhi, Mallikarjun Kharge, all party leaders and people of Haryana," he added.
EC trends for all 90 seats in Haryana: BJP ahead in 49, Congress 35
The BJP has crossed the majority mark in the Haryana assembly and was leading on 49 seats, while the Congress was ahead on 35, according to the latest trends available on the Election Commission website.
Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini and Congress leader Bhupinder Singh Hooda were ahead in their seats. However, INLD leader Abhay Singh Chautala and JJP's Dushyant Chautala were trailing from their seats.
Congress' Vinesh Phogat was trailing from the Julana seat in Jind district where BJP's Yogesh Kumar was ahead by 3,641 votes.
Iltija Mufti concedes defeat
Iltija Mufti, daughter of former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti, said she accepted the people's verdict as she was trailing from her Srigufwara-Bijbehara by more than 4,330 votes against the National Conference's Bashir Shah.
"The love & affection I received from everyone in Bijbehara will always stay with me. Gratitude to my PDP workers who worked so hard throughout this campaign," she added.
Congress's Jairam Ramesh on 'outdated, misleading trends'
As the BJP has crossed the halfway mark in the Haryana Assembly polls according to election trends, Congress leader Jairam Ramesh has questioned whether the saffron party was "trying to build pressure on the administration by sharing outdated and misleading trends".
Vinesh Phogat takes lead in Julana again
Wrestler and Congress candidate, Vinesh Phogat has again taken the lead against her BJP rival Yogesh Kumar in Haryana's Julana Assembly seat, according to Election Commission trends.
Phogat has taken back the lead by 4,130 after nine rounds of counting.
Congress writes to EC over 'unacceptable delay in updating trends'
The Congress party has written to the Election Commission over the "inordinate and unacceptable delay in updating trends in the Haryana assembly elections."
BJP looks set to retain Haryana as it leads on 49 seats
BJP has crossed the majority mark in the Haryana assembly and was leading on 49 seats, while the Congress was ahead on 35, according to the latest trends available on the Election Commission website.
Independents were leading on four seats while the INLD and BSP were ahead on one seat each. The Aam Aadmi Party is yet to get off the mark.
BJP, Congress-NC alliance each win two seats in Jammu&Kashmir
The BJP has won the Basohli seat in Jammu and Kashmir. Party candidate Darshan Kumar won with 31,874 votes. Party candidare Ranbir Singh Pathani won with a margin of 2349 votes.
NC- Congress alliance won the Gurez (ST) seat in Jammu and Kashmir. NC party candidate Nazir Ahmad Khan won with a margin of 1132 votes.
NC youth president Salman Sagar wins Hazratbal seat, defeats PDP leader and former minister Asiea Naqash by more than 10,000 votes.
National Conference workers celebrate in Srinagar
As the Congress-National Conference (NC) has maintained a constant lead in the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly polls, NC workers sing and celebrate in Srinagar.
According to the latest Election Commission data, NC has won two seats and is leading on 41 so far, while Congress is leading on seven seats.
NC-Congress alliance win one more seat; total three seats in Jammu & Kashmir
National Conference candidate Tanvir Sadiq wins Zadibal seat with a margin of 16173 votes.
Earlier ECI announced the winning of NC candidate Nazir Ahmad Khan from Gurez (ST) seat.
NC youth president Salman Sagar won Hazratbal seat, defeating PDP leader and former minister Asiea Naqash by more than 10,000 votes.
NC vice president Omar Abdullah secures unassailable lead over his nearest rival in Budgam assembly seat
ECI declares first result in Haryana
Haryana Congress candidate Aftab Ahmed wins Nuh seat against INLD's Tahir Hussain.
BJP wins one seat in Haryana
BJP candidate Dr Krishnan Lal Middha wins Jind seat with a margin of 15860 votes against Congress' Mahavir Gupta
AAP candidate takes lead in Jammu's Doda
Aam Aadmi Party candidate Mehraj Malik has taken the lead in Jammu and Kashmir's Doda Assembly seat.
Malik is currently leading with 22,611, followed closely by his BJP rival Gajay Singh Rana with 18,063 ballots, the Election Commission said.
Results declared for eights seats in J&K; BJP wins six
The Election Commission (EC) has declared the results for eight seats in Jammu and Kashmir amid the ongoing counting of votes polled in the Assembly elections.
As per EC data, the BJP won the seats of Udhampur East, Basohli, Chenani, Billawar and Jammu West, Jammu North while the National Conference grabbed Gurez, Hazratbal and Zadibal.
National Conference secures 4th seat in J&K
The National Conference has won its fourth seat of DH Pora.
Party candidate Sakeena Masood won the polls by securing 36,623 votes, while her People's Democratic Party rival Gulzar Ahmad Dar got 19,174.
The three other seats that Congress- NC alliance has won so far are Gurez, Hazratbal, and Zadibal.
Independent candidate wins Inderwal seat in Jammu& Kashmir
Independent candidate Payare Lal Sharma won the Inderwal Assembly seat in Jammu and Kashmir with 14,195 votes.
PDP wins one seat
The People's Democratic Party has won the Pulwama Assembly seat. Party candidate Waheed ur Rahman Para secured 24,716 votes.
Omar Abdullah wins Budgam assembly seat
Omar Abdullah wins the Budgam Assembly seat defeating PDP’s Aga Syed Muntazir Mehdi by 18485 votes.
'Omar Abdullah will be the chief minister': Farooq Abdullah
Responding to the INDIA bloc maintaining a comfortable lead in Jammu and Kashmir, National Conference chief Farooq Abdullah said, "People have given their mandate, they have proven that they don't accept the decision that was taken on August 5...Omar Abdullah will be the chief minister."
Big win for Vinesh Phogat in Haryana
Wrestler and Congress candidate Vinesh Phogat won the Julana Assembly seat in Haryana with 65,080 votes. With Julana, Congress has so far won three seats -- Julana, Pehowa and Nuh.
NC leader Sakeena Masood wins DH Pora assembly seat, defeats her nearest PDP rival Gulzar Dar by over 17,000 votes.
J&K: National Conference wins 12 seats, leading in 29; BJP grabs 12
The National Conference has so far won 12 seats in the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly elections and is leading in 29 seats.
Congress won two seats namely Rajouri and Anantnag. In Rajouri, Iftikar Ahmed got 28,923 votes, while his BJP rival Vibod Kumar secured 27,519 ballots. Congress's Peerzada Mohammad Syed secured 6,679 votes in Anantnag. Congress is leading in four seats.
The BJP meanwhile grabbed 12 seats and is leading in 17 seats.
AAP set to win first ever seat in Jammu and Kashmir Assembly
The Aam Aadmi Party is all set to win its first ever seat in Jammu and Kashmir as its candidate Mehraj Malik is leading in Doda by 4538 votes.
Responding to the party's entry into the valley, AAP MP Sanjay Singh said, "AAP is very happy that the movement of the party is reaching different parts of the country. I believe the model we have in Delhi and Punjab will now be discussed in Jammu and Kashmir as well."
Vinesh Phogat emerged victorious in fight against strongest oppressive forces: Bajrang Punia
Congress leader and wrestler Bajrang Punia congratulated Vignesh phogat for her win in Haryana Assembly elections.
“Many congratulations to the country's daughter Vinesh Phogat for her victory. This fight was not just for one Julana seat, it was not just with 3-4 other candidates, it was not just a fight between parties. This fight was against the strongest oppressive forces in the country. And Vinesh emerged victorious,” Punia wrote in a post on X.
'Victory of truth,' says Vinesh Phogat after Haryana win
Wrestler and Congress leader Vinesh Phogat called her victory in the Haryana Assembly polls as "the victory of truth."
“It is the victory of truth. All those who have voted for me shall be happy that we won from Julana. I will always respect the mandate that people gave me. I shall always try to keep faith and love of people of Julana intact. I am a sportsperson and shall work for the sportspersons of my State and all the people of my constituency,” she said.
Vinesh Phogat won the Julena seat by securing 65080 votes. She had a considerable influence in the Jat dominated constituency, especially after her disqualification from the Paris Olympics.
'People wanted stable government..,' says Mehbooba Mufti on PDP's poor show in Jammu and Kashmir elections
"I think the people wanted a stable government and they thought that National Conference -Congress could give that and keep BJP away," PDP chief and former chief minister Mehbooba Mufti said responding to her parties poor performance in the polls.
'We are touching the majority, it is yet to be updated': Former Haryana CM and Congress leader Bhupinder Singh Hooda
"Data is not being updated. As per the information I have, we are touching the majority. Confusion is being created, and there are several seats that we have won, but the data has not been updated yet," he said.
Engineer Rashid's brother Khursheed Ahmad Sheikh wins from Langate in J&K Assembly polls
Baramulla MP Engineer Rashid's younger brother Khursheed Ahmad Sheikh has won from the Langate seat by securing a total of 25984 votes. He defeated his nearest rival Irfan Sultan Pandithapuri of Jammu & Kashmir People Conference by a margin of 1602 votes.
NC, Congress workers celebrate as alliance set to form government in J&K
The Jammu Kashmir National Conference has so far won 38 seats in the J&K Assembly polls. It is leading in another 4 seats. NC's alliance partner Congress has won 6 seats.
BJP has won 26 seats and is leading in 3 seats.
Congress leader Bhupinder Singh Hooda wins Garhi Sampla-Kiloi
Former chief minister of Haryana Bhupinder Singh Hooda won the Garhi-Sampla Kiloi Assembly seat with a whopping majority of 71,465 votes defeating his BJP rival Manju who managed to secure just 37,074 votes.
Congress has so far won 15 seats in Haryana and is leading in 20 seats.
Seven independent candidates win in Jammu Kashmir Assembly polls
As many as seven independent candidates have emerged victorious in the J&K Assembly polls.
Here's the list:
Khursheed Ahmad Sheikh won from Langate with 25984 votes.
Shabir Ahmad Kullay won from the Shopian constituency with 14113 votes.
Payare Lal Sharma won from Inderwal with 14195 votes.
Dr Rameshwar Singh won from Bani with 18672 votes.
Satish Sharma won from Chhamb with 33985 votes.
Muzaffar Iqbal Khan won from Thannamandi with 32645 votes.
Choudery Mohammed Akram won from Surankote with 34201 votes.
Omar Abdullah wins Ganderbal
National Conference (NC) leader and former chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir Omar Abdullah has won the Ganderbal Assembly seat, the second seat he contested. He also won the Budgam seat earlier. In Ganderbal, he secured 32,727 votes.
Savitri Jindal, mother of industrialist and Kurukshetra MP Naveen Jindal, has won from the Hisar constituency in the Haryana Assembly elections. She had contested as an Independent candidate.
Haryana Assembly polls: BJP wins 27 seats, leading in 23 seats
Congress wins 22 seats and is leading in 13 seats
Haryana CM Nayab Saini wins Ladwa seat
Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini has won from the Ladwa constituency by a margin of over 16,000 votes against Congress's Mewa Singh. He managed to secure a total of 70177 votes while Mewa Singh secured 54123 votes.
AAP National Convener Arvind Kejriwal congratulates party's first ever MLA from J&K
Will fight for restoration of statehood on the floor of Assembly: J&K People's Conference president Sajad Gani Lone
After winning the Handwara seat in Jammu and Kashmir Assembly elections, Jammu & Kashmir People Conference president Sajad Gani Lone responded to the poor performance by his party.
Haryana elections: Results are unexpected, unacceptable, says Congress leader Pawan Khera
"There are continuous complaints from our candidate from three districts, Hisar, Mahendragarh and Panipat. Complaints are continuously coming about how some batteries of machines that were 99% showed us losing and in the machines which were not touched, whose batteries were 60-70% showed our candidate winning..." Pawan Khera said.
'Whatever the high command decides..,' BJP's winning candidate Anil Vij on being considered for CM
NC, Congress will form government in J&K with Omar Abdullah as the CM
The National Conference-Congress alliance will be forming the government in Jammu Kashmir after a big win in the Assembly elections. Former chief minister of J&K and NC leader Omar Abdullah will be the new CM.
“The priority of the new government is to fulfil people’s expectations,” Omar who won both the Budgam and Ganderbal seats told reporters.
BJP returns to power in Haryana for a historic third term
The BJP will return to power for a historic third term in Haryana after an unexpected win in the Assembly elections. BJP has seen a clear jump in the number of seats as compared to that of 2019 while showing it is on par with that of 2014.